Why faiths must not be partisan or sectarian

Religious leaders and delegates at the Multi-Sectoral Forum II in Nairobi on March 22, 2017. PHOTO | DENNIS ONSONGO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • There is an urgent need to present a well-thought-out, comprehensive pro-poor agenda.

  • The stark inequality that exists in Kenyan society has not been addressed by any political party.

  • Party manifestos are unavailable so the faiths must take the initiative and capture the imagination of the public through an agenda that is both pro-poor and pro-environment.

Even before the official date for commencing campaigns has arrived, organisations of every description are tripping over each other to get to State House to pledge their support for the Jubilee team. On Tuesday, the Matatu Owners Association were followed by Supreme Council of Kenya, National Muslim Leaders Forum and some Muslim scholars. For their loyalty and prayers, the Muslim fraternity were given 36 tonnes of dates to get them through the month of Ramadhan.

Two months earlier, both Namlef and Supkem had been two of eight religious organisations that signed the communiqué that emerged from a two-day meeting of 600 delegates under the banner of Multi Sector Forum meeting at Ufungamano House. The forum questioned the “readiness of the country to hold peaceful, free, fair and credible polls”. The delegates committed themselves to undertake civic education and to monitor the election process to ensure that institutions including the Executive played their role in providing a credible and peaceful election.

NEUTRAL ARBITRATORS

So how do both organisations now justify their decision to be partisan in the August polls? Can they remain neutral arbitrators and respected members of the Multi Sector Forum? This is not a personal assault on a section of Muslim leaders. There would be just as many questions if John Cardinal Njue were to endorse Nasa. Bottom line, however, is that religious bodies should not endorse any candidate on the grounds that their members have benefited with flags, cars or offices. Such parochial thinking reduces these organisations to sectarian bodies only concerned about their own welfare and not the common good.

Any religious body worth its salt must have a message that appeals to the general public. That is why the Multi-Sectoral Forum is so important since it attempts to include business groups, CSOs as well as religious bodies. But beyond remaining impartial in the elections, the faiths can promote an agenda without endorsing a party or candidate. There is an urgent need to present a well-thought-out, comprehensive pro-poor agenda. The stark inequality that exists in Kenyan society has not been addressed by any political party. All we hear are random isolated promises about free secondary education or rent reduction.

PUBLIC'S IMAGINATION

Party manifestos are unavailable so the faiths must take the initiative and capture the imagination of the public through an agenda that is both pro-poor and pro-environment. Such an agenda would not be merely welfare-based but affordable, inclusive and offering real hope through measures that would address the systems that maintain inequality and injustice.

Confronting our prejudices and challenging our values is the first step to transform society. It is also the stuff of genuine religion that hears the cry of the poor and the cry of the earth. There is a vacuum not only in leadership but in the public imagination. We are enslaved by past failures, cynicism and lack of alternative leadership.

That vacuum can be filled and real change is possible. Yet we should not expect anything of substance from our political class. It is only an agenda from outside that will shake them up and force them to embrace reforms.

@GabrielDolan1