wfn.org | KENYA: CHURCHES TELL PRESIDENT TO REFORM

[a.whitefield@quest.org.uk]

June 13, 1997
ANGLICAN COMMUNION NEWS SERVICE
Canon Jim Rosenthal, Director of Communications
Anglican Communion Office
London, England

[97.6.2.5]

KENYA: CHURCHES TELL PRESIDENT TO REFORM

(from ENI) Kenya's Churches  have issued an ultimatum to their country's
Government, demanding the implementation of basic constitutional
reforms.

While the churches did not specify what action they will take if there
are no reforms, there is a widespread belief that they may call for a
mass boycott of general elections  in November. Over the past few years
the Government has been frequently criticised, at home and abroad, for
deep corruption and for unwillingness to complete promised political and
constitutional reform.

Mutava Musyimi, Secretary General of Kenya's main ecumenical body, the
National Council of Churches of Kenya, and representatives of the Kenya
(Roman Catholic) Episcopal Conference, led by the Archbishop of Nairobi,
Ndingi Mwana'a Nzeki, told journalists  at a press conference in Nairobi
late last month that even though time was running out, "the Government
has done little to review  the Constitution to set the stage for free
and fair elections later in the year".

They pointedly reminded President Daniel arap Moi, who has been in power
since 1978, that "jointly and severally, privately and publicly, we have
advocated broad-based reforms for more than 10 years".

"We are appealing to the Government to effect  the desired changes
before the elections," the religious leaders said.  "We will continue to
pray that this will be done.  But if all these fail, we will take other
measures."

On 23 May, the day after the ultimatum by the Protestants and Roman
Catholic leaders,  the Supreme Council of Muslims of Kenya (Coast
Branch) called for the formation of an independent Electoral Commission
and the annulment of the Public Security and Colonial Chiefs Authority
Act which gives the Government massive powers against opposition
parties. The Muslims also called for cancellation of the requirement
that the winner in the presidential elections get at least 25 per cent
of the vote in five provinces.

When similar demands were made by the Churches last year,  the
Government dismissed the proposals, saying there was insufficient time
to make changes before the elections.

Last month's ultimatum could, according to some observers, set the stage
for biggest  clash between religious leaders and the Government since
the campaign by churches and others at the start of the decade for the
repeal of Section 1A of the Kenya Constitution.  Thanks to the repeal of
Section 1A in December 1991, Kenya adopted a multi-party democratic
system. However largely because of division among opposition parties,
Daniel arap Moi won the presidential election in December 1992 with 36
per cent of the vote. Since his 1992 electoral victory, President Moi's
government has faced mounting criticism about corruption and the lack of
democratic reform. The International Monetary Fund and World Bank in
Washington have led much of the criticism, along with the governments of
The Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavian countries.

In 1993 two senior government officials were implicated in a US$29.5
million scandal over payments for fictitious gold and diamond exports.

Last year  the leading opposition parties formed an alliance which they
hope will enable them to defeat the government in this November's
elections.

On 23 May, when he was told of the Churches' ultimatum, President Moi
said he took "great exception to the dictatorial attitude" assumed by
the Churches on constitutional reform. The president said it was wrong
for the Churches to issue an ultimatum to his government. "This is not
the hallmark of democrats," he said, adding that the issue required a
dialogue. Hasty changes to the constitution would "trivialise it".

"I am surprised the clergy have taken a partisan stand on national
issues," he told  a public rally in the Meru District.