 Arch Bishop Peter Kairo A symposium workshop on post election violence between May 29 and 30 reflected on reconciliation, justice and peace as well as counseling, encounters and celebrations. The meeting of experts was held at Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) bringing together a section of the Catholic clergy.
Arch Bishop Peter Kairo, Chairman Catholic Justice and Peace Commission Kenya Episcopal Conference, called upon parishes and deaneries to organise similar forums to help the message reach as many people as possible.
The fact that Catholic Church teaches that true peace is made possible only through reconciliation and forgiveness, the archbishop noted that the weight of the past, which cannot be forgotten, can be accepted only when mutual forgiveness is offered and received even if this is a long and difficult process, but one that is not impossible.
The symposium served as a culmination of activities towards pilgrimage to the Namugongo Shrine in Uganda which was scheduled for 24th May to 5th June 2008 of which about forty-eight people were expected participate.
The archbishop described the pilgrimage to Namugongo as a “healing and thanksgiving pilgrimage passing through places which were hardest hit by the post election violence.”
Some of the places visited were Limuru, Naivasha, Nakuru, Molo, Kisumu, Eldoret, Kakamega, Mt. Elgon and the Mulanda Refugee Camp in Uganda. The pilgrimage was flagged off at The Holy Family Basilica by John Cardinal Njue on 24th May 2008.
About thirty people including clergy elders, politicians, priests, pastors, youth, United Nations staff and members of the general public will took five days to climb Mount Kenya. This was a symbol of the struggles of different ethnic groups need to forgive and reconcile so as to have peace. The team put a cross, peace flag, and a Kenyan flag on top of Mount Kenya.
“This experience is to remind us that we need to struggle in order to safeguard our political independence, our human dignity and our Christian faith in Jesus Christ. Mt Kenya is a symbol of our patriotism,” said Arch Bishop Peter Kairo.
He added that In 1963, the National flag was hoisted on top of the same mountain as a symbol of victory and freedom. “The history of salvation reminds us of the experience of Moses and the gift of the Ten Commandments which became the source of law and order,’ he said.
What the country has gone through, he noted, was a reminder that citizens pay daily for independence “which we need to cherish and safeguard at all costs”. Further noting that during the post election violence the country’s glory was lost and called upon Kenyans to work towards regaining it by reconciling and forgiving each other so as to coexist harmoniously.
Speaking on the same occasion, the Archbishop of Kisumu Zacchaeus Okoth said the workshop was not only to pray for Peace and Reconciliation, but also to take stock and to reflect on the political events after the disputed December 2007 Elections.
“As we reflect on the sad events of the recent past in our country, it is only the truth which will set us free. We recall that the people of Kenya, in the period running up to the December 2007 Elections, went about their duties, their chores and their campaigns peacefully without any molestation or hindrance. We must acknowledge and underscore the fact that there was Peace and calm in the whole country and among the people of Kenya prior to the Election Day for we were all living side by side as brothers and sisters despite our different political affiliations’ “ the archbishop noted.
Bishop Okoth’s was concerned that on 28th December 2007 when the announcement of the presidential results were dragged on and were not forthcoming and especially when in the full glare of the National and International media, the Electoral Commission of Kenya began giving what was considered fraudulent disputed Presidential results from some constituencies in the country, “the results of some selected polling stations did not seem to tally with what was being announced by Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Kenya at the tallying Centre of KICC, “ he said.
At one stage he said an election presiding officer put his life on the line and stated that in conscience, he would not be party to the results announced. After some days, some four members of the Electoral Commission of Kenya broke rank with other members of the Commission and argued that some of the already announced presidential results were disputed.
“As Kenyans continued witnessing ugly live events at the KICC and getting the latest developments from electronic and printed media, they began to feel that they were being short-changed. These sad events he says built a lot of mistrust, anxiety and animosity among the people of Kenya,” said the Kisumu Archbishop.
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