wfn.org | Kenya Violence

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (222
notes).

Note 221 by UMNS on July 16, 1997 at 16:02 Eastern (2402 characters).

CONTACT:	Linda Bloom		409(10-31-71B){221}
		New York (212) 870-3803	July 16, 1997

Bishop expects "rough days"
in Kenya before elections

	NEW YORK (UMNS) -- A United Methodist bishop currently based in Nairobi,
Kenya, believes that African nation will experience "some rough days between
now and the elections."
	Police crackdowns on rallies during July have resulted in Kenya's worst
political violence since 1991, according to The New York Times.
	Retired Bishop Forrest Stith told United Methodist News Service in a July 15
interview here that when Kenyan police move to disburse rallies or
demonstrations, anyone who resists risks being severely beaten. "A
Presbyterian pastor was critically beaten this past week and almost died," he
added.
	Stith, who is on special assignment in Africa, and his wife, Josephine, had
just arrived back in the United States on July 14 for a brief stay because of
a family death.
	Part of the reason for the current political tensions in Kenya stem from the
fact that when the country gained its independence about 30 years ago, the old
colonial constitution was merely adjusted, not replaced.
	Among the "very suppressive" parts of the constitution are the requirement
that any group having a public gathering must have a license, the government
control of the media and the unfettered authority of the police, according to
Stith.
	Bishop Zablon Nthamburi of the autonomous Methodist Church in Kenya is among
church leaders seeking constitutional reform and serves as chairman of a group
working toward that end. "They have not been the visible ones recently, but
they have been pushing regularly [for reform]," he said.
	Daniel arap Moi, Kenya's president for 19 years, has refused to consider
reforms until after upcoming elections. Stith said it is believed Moi will set
the elections for October or November.
	In the bishop's opinion, "the issue is not the presidential election, but the
parliament. The corruption throughout the government controlled by the common
party is widespread."
	Reform might offer "too even a playing field" for the opposition, he
suggested.
	So far, the violence has not had a significant impact on Stith's duties or
other Methodist-related work. Rallies are announced ahead of time, he
explained, so their offices "just shut down. The streets are empty. Stores
close. People just stay home."
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