Churches asked to be non-partisan

As the country approaches August election which seems to be hotly contested across the entire nation from Presidential to ward level, churches have been urged not to be biased or support any coalition but instead offer prayers for the nation so that there can be peaceful election and later on smooth transition from the current regime to the new one.

Addressing faithful of his church during the ceremony of welcoming him officially as the presiding captain of Makuselwa Salvation Army church in Ndivisi ward in Webuye East Constituency, Cap. Clarence Arula said churches are not supposed to take sides but instead guide the flock in making sure they elect proper leaders who will steer development to their respective places adding that as men and women of God they are not supposed to engage in politics and create the window of animosity but instead be the vessels of preaching peace.

“I ask as we head to elections, let’s observe peaceful campaigns, that’s what we ask of you as  candidates seeking elective post, as security operators and you as a vote, there is no need of fighting each other when for the last five years we have been living together as brothers and sisters, neighbors, friends because after one day exercise which is slated on 9th August we will still remain as we have been,” said Capt. Arula.

He said there is rise of political temperatures because of some uncivilized politicians using some jobless youths for their own self gaining of political mileage which is bad and should cease from such behavior and instead sell their agenda to the electorates and leave them to make their personal decision come August.

” Let’s have issue based politics that will inform the electorates on 9th other than using innocent, frustrated and jobless youths to interfere with your opponent’s political meetings and funerals, most politicians have turned politics into a political contest and as pastors we are finding it hard to do what we are supposed to do at the funerals, those who have lost the loved ones cannot even have good time to give a befitting send off to the deceased, this was never our tradition as people of Western and something must be done otherwise we will not elect leaders but political goons,” said Capt. Arula.

He also appealed to voters to analyze each candidate’s manifesto and make an informed judgment on who to vote so that good, hardworking and progressive leaders can be elected.

His sentiments were echoed by Makuselwa area assistant chief Douglas Wanyonyi who also doubles up as the church sergeant major who said peace is the most important thing that should be upheld by everyone and not only politicians.

“Positions are for leaders who are few but peace is for all of us and therefore it’s each one’s duty to make sure that you maintain peace at all cost even as we approach the General Elections, we should be divided on the basis of tribe, parties, coalitions, church or ethnicity but instead be the ambassadors of peace during and after the election, ” said Asst. Chief Douglas Wanyonyi.

He added that they have put in mechanism to increase security in the sub location security department  and warned anyone who will violate or go against policies that will be dealt with firmly and asked the citizens to cooperate with them in order to achieve the much needed peace across the country.

The ceremony was also attended by Job Chelongo who is vying for Webuye East parliamentary seat on UDP party who appealed to the people in the Constituency and the entire country to scrutinize each candidate, his or her manifesto and his or her past records before making the decision so that they can avoid making mistakes of voting in bad and corrupt leaders who will only focus on their personal development, that of their close family and cronies alone.

“Let’s look deeper and beyond the fifty or a hundred shillings that we are getting from politicians but instead look at their past records and the contribution they have done to the community before we elect them because if we make any slight mistake then we will have to live with it for the next five years,” said Chelongo.

He also appealed for peaceful campaigns and asked politicians to do issue based politics that will bring meaningful change in the lives of the voters.