ST. STEPHENS CATHEDRAL, Kisumu -With spiralling reported cases of disappearances, abductions and killings in parts of the country, the Nyanza Anglican Church of Kenya Bishops are now calling upon President William Ruto to urgently fix the nation by bringing sanity to the security forces.
In a terse statement issued Friday, June 20th, they strongly castigated ‘the brutal and senseless harassment’ by the security agencies which has led to continued suffering.
According to the clergy, the government is ‘using the police to harass, maim, and kill’ dissenters.
They also singled out the disbandment of the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Led by Bondo Diocese Bishop Rev Prof David Kodia, they said that government critics should not be dealt with by silencing them.
“Respond to their demands, frustrations and helplessness with compassion and not with bullets. The police brutality meted out has led to radicalised youth determined to resist totalitarianism and manifestations,” they said during a press conference held in St Stephen’s Cathedral, Kisumu today.
They urged President Ruto to rise up and show leadership by reigning in the security officers.
Disband IPOA and DCI
According to the ACK bishops, they pointed out that, IPOA have failed Kenyans: “It’s seen as toothless and can’t bite, but is engaging in public relations gimmicks.”
On the same breadth, they said DCI should be phased out as ‘there is no difference between them and the terror gangs harassing the people.’
“There is a great concern that most terror gangs are hired by those in positions of influence to create a culture of violence, retaliation, and anarchy,” they said.
“Most of our youth go to the streets to protest against lawlessness perpetuated by the wanton conduct of our security forces.”
They further condemned any attempt to deny the public their freedoms of expression as stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), and the Kenyan constitution promulgated in 2010.
The briefing was also attended by Bishops of Maseno South Diocese(Rev. Charles Ong’injo), Upper Southern Nyanza (Rev John Orina Omangi), Maseno East Bishop-Elect(Rev. Bernard Owuor) and Bondo Diocese Assistant Bishop Rev Dr Emily Onyango.
The Anglican Church also cautioned Kenyans not to use social media as a tool for fanning mis- and disinformation to harm others.
“We demand accountability from the highest office in the land on matters of police brutality. The police are paid by taxpayers, and they are our brothers and sisters. Allow the junior officers to be human in their behaviour, and we need our humanity back,” they concluded.
