Anglican Bishops in Kenya call for dialogue

NEWS Story by SUNDAY NATION Reporter

Publication Date: 1/13/2008

The Anglican Church of Kenya has expressed fears of violence during the countrywide mass action called for next week by ODM leaders.

Consequently, the Church appealed to would-be demonstrators to avoid violence and police to shun use of live bullets to avoid loss of lives.

“We are not against the idea of mass action but our fear is that some people may use the event to engage in violence and to loot property,” the ACK Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi, told a press conference at the church headquarters in Nairobi.

“The law enforcers should provide security without excessive force. They should not use live bullets on the people and must avoid being partisan,” said Archbishop Nzimbi who read the statement the bishops had prepared after their two-day meeting.

Consult over crisis

The 33 ACK bishops in the country have been meeting for the last two days to pray and consult over the crisis that has engulfed the country following the disputed Presidential election results released on December 30.

The crisis has resulted in nearly 500 deaths and destruction of property estimated at Sh60 billion.

ODM called for countrywide protests beginning on Wednesday following the collapse of talks between its leader Raila Odinga and President Kibaki.

Yesterday the ACK Bishops pleaded with both sides of the political divide to submit themselves to mediated dialogue on all outstanding issues.

They also appealed for amendments to the Constitution to address gaps in the electoral laws and those touching on powers of the President.