19 January 2008
Nairobi — Church leaders have restated their readiness to mediate in the current political standoff to prevent further bloodshed.
Nakuru ACK bishop Stephen Njihia pleaded with President Kibaki and ODM leader, Mr Raila Odinga, to embrace mediation initiative by religious leaders.
The bishop said all Kenyans were losers in the violence that has claimed lives of more than 600 people.
"Kenyans from all walks of life are suffering due to the crisis and leaders should heed their cry and agree to mediation," he added.
The bishop said dialogue would also enable thousands of children to resume classes.
"It is very unfortunate that due to the violence, thousands of innocent school-going children have been displaced and are out of school," the bishop said.
He was speaking when he received food and clothes worth more than Sh800,000 for displaced people in Nakuru.
Elsewhere, Catholic nuns have joined other religious leaders in urging the Government and the Opposition to find a peaceful solution to the stalemate.
The Association of Sisterhoods of Kenya, led by their chairperson, Sr Mary Gitau, asked all Kenyans to acknowledge their own contribution to the present situation.
The sisters further said the situation has been aggravated by words and deeds and urged all Kenyans to embrace each other as brothers and sisters.
In a press statement, Gitau said leaders should be touched by the suffering of innocent Kenyans.
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