Kisumu 4th January 2008
 
NYANZA CHURCHNEB REGISTERS THEIR PROTESTS AT THE FLAWEND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND APPEALTO KIBAKI TO VACATE STATE HOUSE

By Leo Odera Omolo

SIX prominent heads of Christian churches in Nyanza Province have registered the Skepticism at the just concluded general election and called upon the relevant authorities to resolve the impasse to ensure that the disputed election results are resolved amicably and peacefully.

The clergymen comprises bishops renewed their call to the chairman of the ECK chairman Samuel Kivuitu to decxlare the real winner of the Presidential contest.

Lead by the Chairman of the Nyanza Council of Churches Bishop Dr. Washinghton Ogonyo Ngede head of the Power of Jesus around the World and include Bishop Francis Mwai Abiero of the Maseno South Diocese of the Anglican Church, bishop zephania Ouma Orao of tye new Wine Church, Bishop Julius Otione Oloo of the living Water Church, Arch-Bishop asper ogelo of the Gospel Fellowship Ministry and Bishop George Obul.

The churchmen healthy congratulated the Kenyan voters for having braved the blistering suns to exercise their democratic rights in a peaceful manner. The Kenyan electorates had turned out in their thousands to vote for a President who stood for a change and the person they wanted to lead them for the next five years..

The nyanza church leaders maintained that the ODM presidential candidate Raila Amolo Amolo Odinga had legitimately won the polls and had beaten his opponent President Mwai Kibaki with a landslide majority. It was there case or an overwhelming majority victory for mr. Odinga and no sane person can caste doubt over this naked fact, they said.

Shameless rigging of the election was even witnessed by members of the European union observers, the Commonwealth observers and members of the diplomatic corpse. All and sundry had witnessed how the election process was abused and made their stand known.. there rigging, they argued was hatched by a few heartless cliques who surrounds the president, the Bishops further argued.

The church leaders said that since the ECK chairman has openly admitted that he had acted under heavy pressure when he declared the loser Mwai kibaki as the winner and flagrantly and deliberately turned there winner raila Odinga the looser, and further than the tallying of the voters had some irregularity, we are demanding that president kibaki steps down fo0r mr. odinga the legitimate winner. Alternatively a re-run of the presidential election would be a justified solution.

The Bishops went on saying, we as members of the Nyanza Council of churches therefore holding the ECK chairman responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocent peace loving Kenyan who have perished and lost their lives as they result of mayhem that followed the mistake of a few individuals at the ECK. These people have lost their lives while demanding for their democratic rights which are inalienable birth rights.

The Nyanza clergymen accused some church leaders who have become partisans to injustices and have come out in the open in support of there verdict of the chaotic polls, and yet they were aware of the massive rigging of the elections.

Our question Is ; Why the revered church leaders should join bandwagon of the election riggers, and yet they are very much aware that the election was grossly flawed.

The group supported the ODM stand that the presidential election be re-run within the next three monthly while a transition coalition government is in places, and that such a repeat of the presidential election be supervised by an independent and internationally reputed body as one way of enduing the current impasse.

President kibaki, they said could not have won the election miraculously when he had garnered the votes in only two Provinces whereas he was beaten hands down in six other provinces.

The bishops appealed to Kenyan Christians, Muslims and other religious leaders to pray for peace in Kenya. We want to see peace and tranquility prevailing in the country, and every Kenyan is allowed back to his home, his place of work and the services resume as usual.

The Nyanza church leaders appealed to president kibaki and his PNU party to warn some cabinet ministers, especially those who were rejected by the wananchi at the polls to stop making inflammatory statements which can only serve to fuel further animosities among Kenyans. The Likes of Muskari Kombo, Mukhisa Kituyi, Raphael Tuju and to a larger extent George Nyamweya has got no mandate to speak on behalf of Kenyans. These election losers have made a lot of sycophantic utterances aimed at attracting the attention of the president for selfish interests. They must shut up and give kibaki and his mandated take charge and handle the situation.

Insignificant politicians like Yusuf Haji and Danson Mungatana have no business making any comment in a fluid situation like this, said the bishops.

It is time for reflection and prayers and Kenyans leaders must exercise tolerant preach for peace and tranquility in this country. There is no point for anyone to try out to defend what is indefensible, they said.

; The Bishops asked kibaki and raila to ensure the safety of wananchi by asking their supporters to refrain from making provocative public pronouncement that could fuel further anarchy and suffering among the wananchi. As Christians we should embrace love and stop preaching hatred among our people, they said.

Ends
Leo
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com