Kenya “facing stormy weather, exchange of ungodly words” in Election Campaigns: Archbishop

The Local Ordinary of Kenya’s Nyeri Archdiocese continued in reference to the situation in the country amid divisive remarks in daily political rallies, “The storm, the words, the vibes, they rock our godliness, our belief in God and threaten to sink our godliness with nonsense.”

“We Kenyans are rocked in the faith of one another. We Kenyans allow to rock one another from the foundations of faith and yet our country is a Godly country, and yet today we are here to announce there is a ray of hope,” he said.

Archbishop Muheria said he regretted the fact that Kenya is lost “in the wilderness of selfish interests, of glorified evil, of people living in fear of doing good, doing right because it has become popular to do evil.”

“We are chained in the spirit of fear,” he said, adding that the National Prayer Breakfast offered a chance to awaken the desire for lasting peace in the East African country.

“We are here to wake up the Jesus who may be deep asleep in your boats dear leader, deep asleep in our conscience. We wish to bring peace. We wish to wake up this longing and desire, this craving for peace, ready to pay the price of peace through love,” the 58-year-old Kenyan Archbishop said during the May 26 event.

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He added, “We pray today that all Kenyans, all citizens, all faiths will raise our hearts, all leaders here present. We pray today that God urges us, that He may guide us to activate our faith because He is not a God of timidity.”

Like the Biblical Joshua who boldly spoke the truth and chose to worship the true God, the Archbishop said, “We need ‘Joshuas’ who will speak the truth, who will stay with the Lord, bold ‘Joshuas’ who will know they are not Jesus, bold ‘Joshuas’ who are instruments of peace not demigods.”

He compared the situation in the country with a vehicle that is smoking and in urgent need of service saying, “Like an engine that is smoking, smoking badly, Kenya needs an oil change, a change of heart.”

“We need clean oil; we need anointment. We are here to ask for that,” Archbishop Muheria said, and implored that “the Holy Spirit may come upon each and every Kenyan, from the least to the highest, and particularly to each and every leader, that true anointment of the spirit (and) godliness.” 

He underscored the need for political leaders who prioritize the good of the citizens over their personal and selfish interests; leaders who are ready “to transit from evil to good”.

“We need to be leaders willing to sacrifice our ego, leaders who are ready to forgive, to join hands; leaders who are aware they are human; leaders who do not look for super perfection in other leaders but go to goodwill; leaders who will genuinely try to do the right thing before God, from the lowest to highest,” the Archbishop who Chairs the Commission for Social Communications of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) said. 

He emphasized the need for Kenyan political leaders to manifest “godliness and integrity” regardless of the religion they profess.  

“We must shift our mindsets; we must make before Him the courage, to swear before Him to live in peace and to sacrifice for peace,” Archbishop Muheria said. 

He added, “For you my sister and brother politicians, for you my fellow citizens, you who fear the Lord and decide to serve the Lord, to serve peace, let us not lock the Lord out.”