Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit has called for political calm, urging politicians to concentrate on service delivery to Kenyans.
Addressing the press on Wednesday, Ole Sapit warned politicians against involvement in early politics, ahead of the 2022 general elections, including using the proposed law changes.
He also cautioned them against misusing the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), which has been since turned into the avenue towards achieving the proposed constitutional amendments.
According to Ole Sapit, politicians should let the BBI push be used for its rightful purpose, but not use it to form alliances with an eye on 2022.
“Ripoti ya BBI haifai kutumiwa kama jukwaa la kubuni miungano ya kisiasa kwa ajili ya uchaguzi mkuu wa 2022. Kama Kanisa tunahimiza kuwa ripoti hii itumiwe kuanzisha mdahalo wa kitaifa kuhusu yale yanayotutatiza kama taifa na namna ya kuyatatua. Tutumie BBI kupalilia umoja wa kitaifa,” he said accoridngnto Taifa Leo, at the All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi.
This translates to: "The BBI should not be used as a platform to form political alliances for the 2022 polls. As the church, we emphasize that the report be used to kick off a debate about addressing our issues and their solutions. Let's use it to plough national unity."
The ACK leader further termed unemployment, corruption, high living cost and tribalism as the issues politicians need to focus on for now.
He warned that failure to address the factors affecting the Kenyans might see the current politicians rejected by Kenyans in 2022.
“I know it will be hard for our leaders to shun politics, especially about the next general elections. But I am warning than that Kenyans will not elect them if their problems are not solved. Therefore, its their responsibility to ensure that the youth get employment and the cost of living reduces. (Najua itakuwa vigumu kwa viongozi wetu kukomesha siasa haswa za uchaguzi mkuu ujao, lakini nawahimiza kwamba wananchi hawataweza kuwapigia kura ikiwa matatizo yanayowazonga wakati hayatatuliwa. Kwa hivyo, ni wajibu wao kuhakikisha kuwa vijana wanapata ajira na gharama ya maisha inashuka,” Ole Sapit noted.
His remarks come at a time when the political class is already maximizing on the BBI issue to fire attacks at each other, with politicians disagreeing on the report implementation.