Reduce cost of living to save lives, Kitui clerics urges state

The government has been urged to intensify efforts to bring down the cost of living that, coupled with current drought, threatened lives.

The Kitui Chapter of the Inter-religious Dialogue Reference Group said it was time to tame the country’s alarmingly increasing inflation rate.

The clergymen said lowering of the price of basic commodities should be prioritised in the ongoing government’s efforts to bring down the skyrocketing cost of living.

“The prices for foodstuff and other basic essentials are on the rise hence many families are struggling to put food on the table,” said a communique the group shared with the media on Sunday.

The press statement followed a consultative meeting held at the Kitui Pastoral Centre under the aegis of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops and chaired by Fr  Joseph Kongo of the Catholic Dioceses of Kitui last Friday.

Those who attended the meeting included representatives of NCCK, AIC, SUPKEM, Evangelical Alliance of Kenya and the Inter-religious Council of Kenya

“The challenge of high cost of living coupled with the ongoing drought and famine in many counties including Kitui is indeed threatening lives of the people,” said the statement.

They the urged the government to work with private investors to lower the cost of production for basic commodities and also increase employment opportunities.

The group voiced concern on what it termed as a spike in insecurity cases in the areas along the Kitui county common border with Tana River county that has made the land inhabitable.

As they lauded the government efforts to restore peace, they urged the security institutions to always involve the inter-religious groups in the peacekeeping missions.

“The clergy have an upper hand in influencing peace among communities who are believed to belong to either of the religious congregations,” the statement said.

The group noted that the August 9 elections proved to the country and the world that elections can be peaceful and free of violence despite them being hotly contested.

“We appreciate the Kenyan citizens, IEBC and all stakeholders involved in the electoral process for the peace that characterised the period before, during and after the election,” they said.