NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 18 – Church leaders from all denominations are calling on all Kenyans to attend a prayer service on July 4, 2014 at the Kasarani Stadium to pray for the current state of insecurity in the nation.
Chairman of the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya Bishop Mark Kariuki says they want to pray for peace in the country because they do not want a repeat of the 2007-8 post election violence.
“As church leaders we are concerned about the attacks from outside, we have seen attacks from inside and we are so much concerned that we don’t get back to where we were in 2007.”
“We are urging the government to take every necessary step so the security of the nation can be enhanced,” Kariuki urged.
Bishop David Oginde of Christ Is The Answer Ministries who attended the same event has condemned the Mpeketoni attacks and called for the cessation of hostilities among communities involved, after President Uhuru Kenyatta ruled out terrorism.
“And so as the church we are praying that this will not happen again whether in Lamu or any other part of the country.”
“Whoever they are who have perpetrated this it is not right, whatever the motive. Taking innocent lives is not the way to go, and we want to just ask those people who are involved to please leave Kenyans to live in peace.”
More than 60 people were killed in the attacks that started on Sunday, in what has been blamed on political incitement.
The church leaders however expressed concern that outsiders who are interested in the newly discovered minerals and oil in the country could be waging war as they have done in other African countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo for their economic benefit.
They asked leaders to set aside their differences and work for the common good of moving Kenya as a country forward.
They have offered to be mediators between the government and the Opposition to help find a lasting solution to their never ending differences.
On radicalisation of the youth, they pleaded with the youth to cease, desist and resist from getting involved in any terror activities and practice patriotism instead.
The church leaders also asked Kenyans to pray for the country and avoid revenge attacks that could spiral the country into deep conflict.
Kenya has seen a spate of terror attacks in the past year that has left hundreds dead, attracted travel advisories from key tourism markets, plummeting the tourism industry that is a key GDP contributor, exposed laxity in the intelligence system and security in general and has left leaders and civilians worried about the future of the country.
