Nairobi, Kenya — Christian leaders in Kenya have decried the skyrocketing of poverty and social vice in society and have asked Kenyans to help government eradicate them.

The clerics were Monday quoted by the media as voicing the misgivings in their homilies at various churches during Sunday services.

In Nakuru, Catholic bishop Peter Kairo decried the rising cases of abortion in the country, saying the vice needed to be eradicated before it took a toll of its victims, who are mostly the youth.

He was also quoted by the East African Standard newspaper as claiming that some abortions were being perpetuated by Christians.

"Some of these (abortion) cases are being engineered by our fellow Christians who encourage young girls to abort so that they can go back to school," he said.

Kairo said his church still regarded abortion as "murder" and described those advocating for its legalisation as misguided.

In Nairobi, Catholic Archbishop Ndingi Mwana a'Nzeki said the church was greatly concerned with the rising cases of poverty in the country and asked Kenyans to take up the responsibility of revamping the economy.

The prelate said Kenyans had an individual responsibility to improve the economy of the country, and asked them not to leave it solely to government.

"Other countries have recovered from tough economic conditions. Kenyans therefore should pool resources and help the country recover economically," Ndingi said.

The Archbishop announced that in a bid to assist the government in reviving the economy, the Catholic Church has set up a Development Departmental Office in each diocese to co-ordinate socio-economic efforts of the faithful and citizens of the areas.

"The Catholic Church believes that with a strong and correct action on the part of all segments of society, it is possible to make a turn round," Monday's Kenya Times quoted him as saying.

In Eldoret, Anglican prelate Francis Abiero attributed the harsh economic climate in the country to poor leadership.

He said he was unhappy that Kenyans were now languishing in poverty due to mismanagement perpetuated by a leadership crisis.

"Due to the crisis, the country is faced with numerous problems raging from political to economical issues which can only be resolved by prayer," he told a church service.

Abiero also blamed poverty for the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS in the country and called for concerted efforts among leaders to fight the disease.