Sapit cautions against early political campaigns

Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Archbishop Dr. Jackson ole Sapit yesterday lashed out at political leaders engaging in premature political campaigns, saying they are polarising the country and are a threat to peace.
Ole Sapit noted that spirited campaigns and groupings by political leaders along tribal and regional lines were threatening national cohesion and challenged them to stop.
Politicians, he said, were mobilising Kenyans based on their tribes and inflaming them against one another, stressing that their heated rhetoric was retrogressive and uncalled for.
“Kenyans need peace. They have no problems with one another. We live together in our cities countryside, do business and Kenyans have intermarried and will continue,” he said, imploring Kenyans to embrace each other regardless of their tribes.
Ole Sapit, flanked by Upper Southern Nyanza ACK Diocese Bishop John Orina and Nambale ACK Diocese Bishop Isaiah Obuya, spoke at St Philips ACK Church in the area during an event to mark the retirement of Bishop Cleti Ogeto.
He said the political class, through its rhetoric, was reminding Kenyans of their tribal inclinations, noting some leaders were holding meetings in their regions to criticise leaders from other regions.
“If the political attacks continue, they will degenerate into a national security issue and force Kenyans to wake up against each other,“ Ole Sapit said, advising Kenyans to shun negative politics.
Abductions lamented
The bishop said Kenyans do not want to witness a repeat of what happened in 2007, and challenged leaders to strive to lead Kenyans and not tribes.
Lamenting the abductions and killings reported in Kenya in recent months, he challenged the government to stop blame games and instead arrest perpetrators to face the law.
“We still continue to witness the discovery of bodies of our children who have been abducted and killed. We remind leaders they have a responsibility to secure the lives of every Kenyan,” Ole Sapit said.
The archbishop noted that it was perturbing to hear that police were claiming they did not know who the abductors were, adding that if police were not involved, they should tell Kenyans who was responsible for the crimes.
Ole Sapit urged Generation Z to reject tribal language and rhetoric, fight for their rights and avoid being divided by leaders along tribal lines.