Stop fighting churches, Kisumu clerics tell city boss

@alalmaurice

Religious leaders in Kisumu have told acting city manager Abala Wanga to stop fighting the church as he will not win the war.

The clergy criticised Wanga over the ban of crusades by the county government saying they pay taxes like other people and entities.

Led by Christ Greater Exploits Church Bishop Philip Obuya, the clerics said they have freedom of worship in public and secret places.

“Even the Bible says whoever destroyed the house of God, will also be destroyed. Remove your hands from the church for Kisumu to have peace. Don’t fight the church because the God that we worship is the one protecting us and the county,” he said.

Obuya warned that if the church stops praying, even for a day, Kisumu will not be the same.

“It is prayers that have helped Kisumu and the country at large. We are shocked with the continued attacks on the church,” he said.

Last week, the county government through Wanga banned crusades in estates and residential areas within the city.

Obuya, accompanied by bishop Moses Onuko argued that the church is a major stakeholder on matters of development in the county.

The county, he said, should have invited them for a meeting to discuss the complaints from the residents over crusades.

“Why has the church leadership not invited us for consultation, if at all there were issues on crusades in the estates or residential areas?” he said.

They said before the ban, the county government ought to have called the church for a public participation to give their views instead of the impromptu decision.

“We are not animals but human beings. Bishops and pastors are people you can invite and agree on issues of concern,” Obuya said.

The churches, they said, always seek approval from the Environmental Management Authority before they hold crusades.

“We seek for approval and pay before having such crusades and use sound systems in regards to the Nema rules and regulations,” Obuya said.

He urged Governor Nyong’o and Wanga to revisit the ban and call the clerics for dialogue over the matter.

“You should not fight the church. It is the church who prayed for Nyong’o and voted him. There are votes in the church,” Obuya said.

He questioned why the ban aimed at controlling noise pollution was not imposed during the electioneering period, when there was a lot of noise.

Onuko argued that there is need for a peaceful environment to spread the gospel of God the same way the county and national governments want peace for developments.

“We should not be profiled for undertaking the work of God. The church plays a crucial role in spiritually, developments, peace, governance and well-being of citizens,” he said.

But Governor Anyang Nyong'o in a meeting with church leaders led by Nyanza council of churches chairman Bishop Washington Ogonyo Ngede said they only wanted to control the excessive noise.

"As a county, we did not ban crusades but want it be regulated and conducted without interfering with the rights of other people by addressing noise pollution," he said.

The county government had issued a notice that all public religious gatherings in estates and residential areas should stop citing noise pollution.

Wanga said gatherings should instead be held within their church premises and not in any public space.

He said the city has received numerous complaints from the general public on the increased number of crusades and keshas within residential areas in the city.

"Notice is hereby given to all religious institutions to ensure that all public religious gatherings in estates and residential areas are stopped and held within their church premises and not in any public space," the notice dated November 3 read.

In addition, Wanga said the main worship areas should install appropriate soundproofing devices within their premises.

"Take further notice that you are hereby directed to reduce the noise, which we have noted to be excessive, to permissible levels (up to 45dB) within your premises," the city manager said.

He added that failure to comply with the directive, the relevant institutions will face the law.

The notice has been copied to the city directors in the environment, directorate and public health departments.