ROLE OF CHURCH QUESTIONED

Don’t be used to sanitise corruption, Raila tells church leaders

Says many church leaders have become beneficiaries of proceeds of corruption.

In Summary

• Raila said it is worrying that many church leaders across the religious divide have compromised their stands on speaking against corruption.

• He said the churches should rally their congregations to support the BBI which seeks to ensure more money is channeled to the grassroots.

ODM Leader Raila Odinga when he toured Kawangware October 4, 2020.
ODM Leader Raila Odinga when he toured Kawangware October 4, 2020.
Image: COURTESY

ODM leader Raila Odinga has cautioned church leaders against 'sanitizing' proceeds of corruption.

Raila on Thursday said it is worrying that many church leaders across the religious divide have compromised their stands on speaking against corruption because they have become beneficiaries.

Speaking in Kajiado during a sensitization on the two-thirds gender rule, Raila said the time has come for both churches and mosques to redeem themselves.

 

The African Union Special Representative for Infrastructure said corruption remains the biggest challenge that has crippled service delivery in the country.

“It is unfortunate that many public servants instead of service delivery, they focus on enriching themselves. Within a short period after their appointments they are bragging of mass wealth and move around dishing money every day,”  he said.

“I want to appeal to our church leaders and Imams that should not be used as laundry to sanitise proceeds of corruption...we must all unite to condemn corruption.”

He said the churches should rally their congregations to support the BBI which he said seeks to ensure more money is channelled to the grassroots.

The former Prime Minister further said many youths are being swayed astray by leaders pretending to be speaking for democracy.

Referring to factions like the YK92, Raila said it is ironic that those who opposed democracy then have suddenly turned to saints now calling for the same democracy.

“It has been a long journey since independence,  we need to unite and save our youth who are being strayed by wolves in sheepskin. We cannot allow such wolves to devour our youth, we have a war that we need to bring everyone on board,”  he said.

 

Raila maintained such a war will be won through the BBI which is a product of many fights that saw shedding of blood.

"My brother Uhuru and I agreed to bury our differences and work on a formula to resolve the disagreements which contributed to tribal, economic and gender discrimination,”  he said.

He said as the country draws closer to the 2022 general elections, all the issues that have been crippling the electoral process over the years need to have been conclusively addressed.

Raila said more women should be encouraged to register as voters in order to boost efforts of having more women in elective positions.

Raila said the two-thirds gender rule does not necessarily need to be realized through nominations but through open dialogue on why they should be given a chance.

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