22 March 2008
Nairobi — Forgiveness, repentance and reconciliation dominated Easter sermons across the country on Friday.
These were the main themes as thousands of Christians flocked worship centres across the country to usher in this year's festivities.
Families, accompanied by their young ones and adorned in resplendent attires, thronged churches from as early as 7am.
The religious leaders deplored the violence that was witnessed during and after the December 27, 2007 General Election, and said Kenyans should never again allow electoral politics to divide them.
They asked the faithful to embrace virtues such as loving one another to promote national cohesion.
At the Holy Ghost Cathedral in Mombasa, Fr John Correa preached the message of togetherness and called on the faithful to remember the less fortunate in society. He also told them to pray for the victims and survivors of post-election violence.
Fr Correa asked the perpetrators of the violence to seek God's forgiveness for their crimes.
Internal refugees
The priest called on the Government to resettle and compensate the thousands of internal refugees in the country.
Christians celebrating Good Friday said Easter gave them a chance to remember the death of Jesus and change their lives for the better.
Felix Njuguna, a worshipper at the Holy Ghost Cathedral, said Easter was a time for mankind to repent and return to God.
The service was attended by Archbishop Boniface Lele of Mombasa.
In Eldoret, North Rift residents were asked to allow internal refugees back to their homes.
Bishop Cornelius Korir urged them to forgive one another and foster peaceful coexistence with their neighbours.
Speaking during Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral after leading the faithful in a procession along the town's streets, he said the country needed to heal from the post-election violence and move forward.
"We need to start a new life altogether and we cannot leave out our brothers who are in the camps," he said.
He asked the Government to resettle the refugees before the long rains pounded the country.
"During the Lenten period we have been denying ourselves for the better of those in need. This should be reflected in our lives by helping resettle our brothers in the camps," the bishop said and praised President Kibaki and ODM leader Raila Odinga for agreeing to work together for the good of the country.
He said the recent passing of the two peace Bills by Parliament was the greatest gift Kenya had ever received.
"It now marks the beginning of the process of constitutional overhaul that Kenyans have been longing for," he said.
The bishop was optimistic that Kenyans would no longer suffer once the Constitution is fully reviewed.
Held prayers
In Nakuru, Bishop Peter Kairo led his congregation in a procession for over 10 kilometres across the town as they prayed in commemoration of Jesus Christ's crucifixion.
Bishop Kairo urged Kenyans to embrace peace and forgive one another despite the recent post-election violence, which, he said, should serve as a lesson to Christians to pray and seek God's forgiveness.
Other Christians in Nakuru held prayers in their respective churches as others took the opportunity to join friends and relatives in their rural areas.
A visit to the Nakuru National Park also revealed that a sizeable number of domestic and foreign tourists had visited to rest and enjoy the country's wildlife.
Hotels and other recreational outlets also made booming business as local revellers ventured into them for entertainment alongside their loved ones.
In Nyeri, tragedy struck when a 14-year-old boy was crashed to death by a matatu while he was in a procession of Catholic faithful.
Six others, including three students, were seriously injured during the incident on the Ihururu-Nyeri Road near Mathari Mission Hospital.
A student from Mathari Catechist Training Centre, Mr Stephen Mwasia, said the students and the faithful from St Augustine Catholic Church were walking in a procession when the driver of a matatu heading to Nyeri Town lost control of the vehicle, hitting some of the people in the procession.
Matatu crew fled
He said the matatu crew fled after the incident, while some of the passengers cut short their journeys.
"We were returning to the church when I heard a bang followed by people falling over me," he said.
He said the matatu, whose engine had been allegedly switched off as it descended a slope, caught those in the procession by surprise.
At least two students from the Mathari Catechist Training Centre, a woman studying at the Mathari Nursing Home and two Christians, a man and a woman, were admitted to Mathari Hospital with injuries.
Hundreds of the faithful flocked the hospital to check on them.
A doctor at the hospital, Dr Francis Maina, said the boy, a pupil at Ihururu Primary School, died while undergoing treatment.
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