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Kenya’s Christian Professionals Laud Politicians for “maturity, calmness” During Elections

Logo Kenya Christian Professionals Forum (KCPF). Credit: KCPF

Christian Professionals in Kenya have expressed gratitude to all political actors in the just concluded general elections in the country, acknowledging with appreciation their manifestation of “maturity and calmness”.

In a statement issued Tuesday, September 6, members of the Kenya Christian Professionals Forum (KCPF) have also called on the country’s incoming government to uphold the dignity of human life and respect the rule of law. 

We extend our appreciation to all the contestants in the just-ended elections, including the runners up in the Presidential elections led by Hon Raila Odinga and Hon Martha Karua, for the maturity and calmness displayed throughout this period,” KCPF members say in the statement signed by their chairman, Charles Kanjama.

The Christian Professionals also laud Kenyan politicians for respecting the role of institutions such as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the Judiciary, saying, “We commend you for following the right channels in pursuing resolutions to the electoral disputes.” 

On August 22, eight petitioners, including former Prime Minister, Mr. Odinga’s Azimio La Umoja coalition, filed petitions at Kenya’s Supreme Court, challenging the election of Dr. Willian Samoei Ruto as the fifth President of Kenya.

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Dr. Ruto, Kenya’s Deputy President, was declared the winner of the tight Presidential election with 50.49% of the valid votes, against his main challenger, Mr. Odinga’s 48.85% on August 15.

On Monday, September 5, the Supreme Court of Kenya delivered a verdict upholding the victory of Dr. Ruto.

Delivering the judgment on behalf of the seven-member court, Chief Justice  Chief Justice (CJ) Martha Koome, the chair of the Kenyan Supreme Court, also dismissed the set of petitions that had been tabled by aggrieved parties for the court’s determination.

In their statement issued a day after the Supreme Court ruling, KCPF members congratulated the President-elect and the Deputy President-elect, Hon Rigathi Gachagua, for their victory. 

“Please accept our Congratulations on your confirmed victory and our best wishes as you prepare to take up the responsibilities and challenges of the highest offices in the Republic of Kenya,” Kenya’s Christian professionals say. 

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They add, “As you embark on the new task placed before you, we pray that God's grace and favor be on you as you lead the country; we ask you to uphold the national values outlined by our Constitution, protect the dignity of human life from conception to natural death, protect and promote the family as the basic unit of society, and work to safeguard our religious and cultural values and freedoms.”

They further “pledge to engage” the incoming government in pursuing the outlined “goals, including the journey of transformation in values-based education and good governance.”

“As we move on to the next 5 years of governance, KCPF, in collaboration with other professional bodies and organizations, pledges to focus on the journey of Constitutionalism,” the representatives of the Christian professionals in Kenya say.

In their September 6 statement, KCPF members also commend the Judiciary “for pronouncing itself on the matters placed before it in the 2022 presidential petition.”

They express their readiness to “work with others to promote the development of our national software, with a focus on values required by each of us as individuals.”

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In line with their commitment, the professionals say “KCPF has set up a Constitutional Law Team to promote advocacy on constitutional values.”

“We are also building a platform for diverse professionals and professional groups to join us in this noble undertaking. As we build our values, so shall we build our country,” the Christian professionals further say.

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.