Churches tell Kenyans to stop believing Gov't lies, recall underperforming MPs

The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has urged Kenyans to reject government misinformation and take steps to hold their leaders accountable.

In a joint statement by signed by Chairman Rev. Dr. Elias Otieno Agola and General Secretary Rev. Canon Chris Kinyanjui on Tuesday, NCCK expressed grave concern over the state of the nation, likening the country’s current situation to that of a patient in critical condition.

The churches body noted that the challenges facing Kenya today are a direct result of the public's tendency to listen to and believe misleading narratives pushed by political leaders seeking to maintain or gain power.

"The situation in our country is the direct result of our tendency, as the people of Kenya, to listen to and believe the narratives peddled by persons seeking to rise to or to hold onto politics and leadership. These narratives are often premised on lies and falsehoods," read the statement.

"We appeal to you, Brothers and Sisters, to be seekers of truth. Do not just believe what is said, but take a step to verify if what you have been told is true."

The churches also voiced disappointment with the performance of the current Members of Parliament (MPs), accusing them of betraying the very people who elected them.

Instead of fulfilling their constitutional duty to oversee the Executive, the churches decried that MPs have become complicit in enforcing oppressive laws and policies.

"Instead of representing the people they have become spanner boys carrying out the work of the Executive. Instead of oversighting the Executive, they are cheerleaders in oppressing the people. Instead of speaking for the people, they are making oppressive laws. This state is unsustainable," said NCCK.

The council subsequently called on voters to take action, reminding them of their constitutional right to recall MPs who are not serving the interests of their constituents.

"We encourage you as voters to collect signatures and commence the processes of recalling the Members of Parliament who are not performing as per your requirements and demands," NCCK said.

"As the electorate, you are the employer, not a servant, of the Members of Parliament and other elected leaders, and the right of recall is the disciplinary measure availed to us by the Constitution."

NCCK further chimed in on the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), describing the government's failure to do so as an insult to the people of Kenya and a direct attack on the country’s democratic process.

The council expressed concern over ongoing attempts to undermine the constitutional and legal framework of the country, warning that such efforts threaten to unravel the very foundation that holds Kenya together.

"IEBC is the most crucial organ in the exercise of democracy in Kenya, for it is the body mandated to facilitate election and removal of leaders. The persistent refusal by the current political leadership to reconstitute the IEBC is a major insult to the people of Kenya and an attack on who we are as a nation," said NCCK.

"We encourage you, as the citizens of Kenya, not to give your elected leaders and their appointees peace until they heed to the demand for urgent recruitment of IEBC Commissioners as provided for in the Constitution. We urge you to raise your voices to demand that the Judiciary concludes the cases touching on the IEBC reconstitution within the next two weeks. We must get back our democracy."