NAIROBI, Kenya (CNS): Following days of violence and death after the announcement of disputed election results, Kenya’s Catholic bishops appealed to political leaders to make every effort to engage in dialogue to resolve the crisis.
A Church official also said a bishop in one of the areas with the worst violence had appealed for help for the local humanitarian crisis.
“We appeal specifically to the political leaders … to reach out to one another through dialogue in order to seek a solution to the present situation,” said a January 2 statement signed by 24 Kenyan bishops, including Kenya Episcopal Conference chairman Nairobi Cardinal John Njue of Nairobi.
The four-page statement, “My Peace I Give You”, emphasised that Kenya needs peace based on justice and true brotherhood. The bishops offered to mediate the crisis and proposed a review of the election results.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission and the International Federation for Human Rights said hundreds of people had died since the December 27 presidential election in which President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner.
Among those dead were up to 50 people burned alive in an Assemblies of God church where they had sought refuge in the city of Eldoret.
Property damage throughout Kenya has been estimated in the millions.
Opposition candidate Raila Odinga claims the election was rigged.
The head of the country’s electoral commission said both sides pressured him to announce the results quickly, and he is not sure he announced the correct results.
The bishops urged Kenyans, especially youths, to exercise restraint in their behaviour and remarks and to refuse to take part “in any form of destruction, looting or even receiving stolen goods”.
Kenya Episcopal Conference secretary-general Fr Vincent Wambugu said the current crisis had affected close to 75,000 people of various faiths.
“Half of this figure is being sheltered within the Eldoret Catholic diocese,” he said.
