Nairobi — President Kibaki reached out to faiths, urging the clergy to remain neutral and foster unity as the country edges towards the General Election.

The President's plea came at a time when heads of different faiths have taken sides with political camps competing for power.

Kibaki, who was speaking at the funeral service of Nyeri Catholic Archbishop Nicodemus Kirima yesterday, urged religious groups to avoid partiality.

President Kibaki pays his last respects to Archbishop Nicodemus Kirima at Ruringu Stadium, Nyeri District, Thursday.

"I appeal to leaders of all faiths to rise above the political passions fuelled by competition," Kibaki told hundreds of faithful who attended the Mass at Ruring'u Stadium, Nyeri.

Kirima, who died two weeks ago from kidney complications, was later buried at 2.45pm in a tomb inside the Consolata Cathedral in Nyeri town.

Twenty-six bishops and archbishops from all over the country attended the Mass led by John Cardinal Njue.

The President warned that political temperatures would rise in the next three weeks, but urged Kenyans to prove to the world that they valued peace.

He reminded voters that although they supported different political camps, they would continue living together even after the elections. He asked for tolerance of different political views.

"Do not allow any individual or group to be discriminated against because they have different views in that locality," added the President. Some Church leaders have declared support for Kibaki, while a section of Muslims have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ODM presidential candidate, Mr Raila Odinga. They have pledged to support his bid for State House.

The controversial MoU between Raila and the National Muslim Leaders Forum has drawn criticism from churches, which say it elevates Islam above other religions.

But Kibaki yesterday said faiths had a duty to speak the truth.

"The Church has a solid role to unite people of different backgrounds so that they can put aside their differences. I call on the Church to rise above tribal and racial differences during the campaigns," said Kibaki.

The President's visit to his Nyeri turf came two weeks after he endorsed candidates picked on his PNU party ticket, much to the chagrin of others running on fringe parties supporting him.

Kibaki has since appeared to back off from that stand, instead asking candidates in various parties to work together.

Yesterday, there was a sign of reconciliation among candidates with those in smaller parties allowed to sit in the presidential dais.

Nobel laureate, Prof Wangari Maathai, sat next to her bitter rival, Mr FT Nyammo, who beat her in the Tetu PNU nominations. She retreated to her Mazingira Green Party.

DP candidate for Tetu, Mr DK Kimanyo, and Nyeri Town's candidates, Ms Esther Murugi Mathenge (PNU) and Mr Peter Mureithi (Mazingira), were also present.

The President said Kirima gave his life to community service, especially the poor.

"Kirima was a determined individual whose strong character saw him overcome many difficulties," said the President.

Kirima, who was Nyeri archbishop since 1988, died at the Nairobi Hospital where he was undergoing treatment. He has been in and out of hospital since 2001 when he developed kidney failure.

In 2002, he underwent a kidney transplant in the US donated by his brother, Mr Peter Kariithi.

He was buried next to his predecessor, Archbishop Caesar Gatimu, who died in February 1988.

According to the Catholic faith, bishops and archbishops are laid to rest in the Cathedral if they die in office.

Nakuru Bishop Peter Kairu performed the final rites in the Cathedral. Scores of faithful lined up to view the tomb.

Njue asked priests to unite in the face of Kirima's death, saying it should not spark competition among them.

"Let us avoid anything that would cause division. In the see of Nyeri, there is no vacuum," he said.

Njue said the Pope had appointed him the Nyeri apostolic administrator.

The Pope's representative, Alain Paul Rebeaupin, who also attended the Mass, asked the Episcopal Conference and the clergy to help him recruit an archbishop for Nyeri.

He said: "We have a responsibility as the clergy to find a successor. I need your help and ask for your prayers that we find the right person for this great archdiocese."

There are seven dioceses under the expansive archdiocese. They are Nyahururu, Meru, Embu, Mararal, Isiolo and Marsabit.

In his message read by the secretary of the Kenya Episcopal Conference, Father Vincent Wambugu, the Pope termed Kirima's death a big loss to the Church.