Nairobi — The interfaith community in the country has urged the government to uphold human rights and the rule of law as Kenya commemorates 13 years since the adoption of the 2010 Constitution.
The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), and Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) have partnered with Civil Societies in their appeal as Kenya observes the 13th anniversary since the adoption and enactment of the Constitution.
Kenya promulgated the current Constitution on August 27, 2010.
During the review process of the Kenyan Constitution, the religious community in the country played a crucial role through the Ufungamano Initiative.
"We wanted a Constitution that would assure every Kenyan equality before the law, with equal access to services and resources. We dreamt of a Constitution that would give Kenya a better government, national cohesion, and hope," Archbishop Timothy Ndambuki said.
The interfaith community has composed a pastoral letter, set for distribution in churches across the country on Sunday. The letter aims to urge the government to respond to the demands of the Constitution.
The mosques were in receipt of the letter on August 25, 2023.
"The major reason for celebrating Katiba at 13 is the transformation of life that Kenyans have witnessed in the last 13 years," Ndambuki said.
While the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution brought positive developments to the country, the interfaith community opines there are still significant challenges.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
- Challenges -
Human rights violations, adherence to the rule of law and constitutional principles, as well as the promotion of peace, national unity, and stability, constitute prominent challenges according to the interfaith community.
Regarding human rights violations, they criticize the utilization of police and security agencies to occasionally suppress people's rights. They lament that arrests aim to stifle dissent.
On the violations, the issue of endemic corruption that continues to undermine the issue of socio-economic rights to food, health, water, sanitation, housing, and fair employment opportunities is also something they want to change.
Part of the challenge to adhering to the rule of law, as perceived by the interfaith community, involves certain public officials blatantly disregarding the Constitution or court orders, which they assert need to change.
"This has given root to the continued growth of corruption, as well as failure to actualize Chapter 6 of the Constitution which sets standards for leadership," Ndambuki said.
While striving for peace, national cohesion, and sobriety, the interfaith community has expressed regret over the weakening of Independent Commissions and Offices that are intended to safeguard and advance justice and national cohesion.
To uphold and advocate for the Constitution, the interfaith community has encouraged Kenyans to take various actions.
These include speaking out against and exposing injustices against anyone, recognizing that injustice to one affects all; resisting corruption by rejecting bribes; and offering prayers for the nation.
