“Anything political or developmental should be specifically excluded for honour of God and respect of the deceased,” the Bishops declared.
The Bishops’ declarations, which were made during the National Prayer Day were characterized by a series of symbolic gestures aimed at manifesting the Bishops' commitment to fighting against the vice of corruption.
“We come out in a prophetic gesture of mourning, to call to God for his mercy, to call to all people and especially all Kenyans, from the lowest to the highest, from the youngest to the oldest, to change our wayward ways, and decide to personally reject any act or form of corruption,” KCCB chairman, Archbishop Anyolo declared on behalf of the Bishops in Kenya.
The Bishops walked barefoot and knelt before the altar as a sign of their humility when seeking God's mercy, and at the same time, “mourning of our society for the loss of commitment to God's laws and for the exploitation and abuse of the poor, sold for a penny, (and) for the many debts caused by corruption.”
“We do so with humility by removing our shoes, in solidarity with those who have suffered and continue to suffer the dehumanizing effects of Corruption, especially those living in miserable conditions,” Archbishop Anyolo explained the significance of walking barefoot at the Marian Shrine that stands on the Equator, the point where the Northern and Southern hemispheres meet.
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The Bishops also carried crosses “as a weapon against this fight of the devil in corruption because Christ, by the cross, already overcame the devil and death.”
“We come against this evil with the cross of Jesus Christ and a true adherence to what the Holy Cross calls us in baptism,” Archbishop Muheria declared and went on to explain, “We are all sent to carry this cross in society and bring life and light in the darkness of corruption.”
In addition, the Prelates wore white and green ribbons as a sign of commitment to standing up against corruption.
Finally, each Bishop read, signed and handed over a personal declaration to the Chairman of KCCB as a sign of commitment that they will spearhead the Bishops’ collective initiative of fighting against corruption in their respective ecclesiastical territories.