• Raila wondered why the church wants to distance itself from a process it made contributions to during collection of views.
• The BBI report is being debated by MCAs before being taken to the National Assembly and the Senate for further consideration ahead of the plebiscite.
Image: COURTESY
ODM leader Raila Odinga has called on the church to endorse the Building Bridges Initiative report because they have been part of the process.
Raila wondered why the church wants to distance itself from a process it made contributions to during collection of views.
The BBI report is being debated by MCAs before being taken to the National Assembly and the Senate for further consideration ahead of a plebiscite.
Some church leaders, including the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, have called for the rejection of the BBI report saying some of its contents were dangerous to the country.
Conference chairman Philip Anyolo said BBI would increase the wage bill in the country when the Executive is expanded.
Muslims under their umbrella body Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) also rejected the report.
But on Tuesday, Raila questioned why some church leaders were complaining that their issues were left out yet their leaders were incorporated in the process.
The church has called for rejection of the report.
Raila said the church and Kenyans had ample time to present to the BBI task force.
Some of the church leaders who were in the task force included Catholic Bishop Zacchaeus Okoth and Bishop Njenga of the Anglican Church.
“The church has played a very critical role at difficult times in the history of this country. They have stood for the rights of many and, therefore, we would like to see them on our side,” Raila said.
Speaking in Homa Bay town during ordination of Catholic bishop Michael Odiwa on Tuesday, Raila asked the church to ignore misconceptions perpetrated by those opposed to the constitutional amendment.
He said the same leaders propagated propaganda in the constitution making process.
“They said the Constitution would allow gay marriage and legalise abortion but until today they are unfounded. Let the church help us support what will positively transform the country,” Raila said.
He said BBI will help to improve governance and devolution structures. “More money will come to the counties and MPs be part of the Executive hence save more funds currently paid Cabinet ministers,” he added.
Raila was with Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa, Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti, his deputy Hamilton Orata, Kisumu Deputy Governor Matthew Owili, Senator Moses Kajwang' and Woman Rep Gladys Wanga, among other MPs.
The ODM leader dismissed leaders who question his religious background saying he a true Christian.
“Some people call me mganga and mtu wa vitendawili yet I am a true Christian who worships at the Anglican Church,” he said.
Wamalwa said the church has an important role in creation of peace and therefore it should support BBI that advocates for peace in the country.
“We would like to walk together with church towards creation of peace. We want to partner with the church for the success of BBI,” Wamalwa said.
The CS criticised leaders opposing the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila, saying they have a short memory.
He asked Kenyans to ignore narratives that are likely to cause division in the country towards general election.
He gave the example with Nelson Mandela and Frederik de Klerk
“Countries like South Africa and Northern Ireland enjoy peace because their leaders embraced the handshake just like the one we have in Kenya,” the CS said.
Awiti, Wanga and Kajwang' asked residents to vote in support of the BBI during referendum.
“We can’t afford to have chaos during election again if we can get a solution to it now,” Awiti said.