ODM leader urges religious leaders to speak out against vices
ODM leader Raila Odinga addresses ODM members during the National Delegates Conference at Safaricom indoor arena on May 5, 2017. He asked political leaders to create an environment that can allow religious leaders to challenge systems. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- He challenged them to emulate some of the notable religious leaders from the continent who fought diligently for their people.
ODM leader Raila Odinga challenged religious leaders in African to address matters regarding corruption, bad governance, poverty and free and fair elections.
Mr Odinga, who was addressing the Africa-Israel conference at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel, accused religious leaders of ignoring the social economic problems facing their flock and not speaking firmly against bad governance.
He challenged them to emulate some of the notable religious leaders from the continent who fought diligently and firmly for their people.
Some of those he mentioned are bishops Desmond Tutu of South Africa, Janani Luwum, Festo Kivengere of Uganda, and Alexander Muge, Henry Okullu, Ndingi Mwana a’Nzeki and David Gitari from Kenya.
“Africa is today crying for moral voices that speak truth to power,” he said, adding the continent is losing about Sh14.8 trillion yearly to corruption, which translates to about 25 per cent of the GDP.
He asked political leaders to create an environment that can allow religious leaders to challenge systems.
