By Eddah Waithaka
The National Council of Churches of Kenya held a national dialogue conference on issues of concern to Kenyans at Ufungamano House in Nairobi.
One of these issues is the death of more than 200 Kenyans in the ongoing rains and floods that have been occurring over the past few weeks.
The council said: “We continue to pray for all affected families for a speedy recovery. Our places of worship across the country are open at all times to provide shelter and support to those who have been displaced.”
“We are also mobilizing worshippers in our congregations to collect relief materials to share with the affected families,” they continued.
Secondly, the lobby said it was deeply saddened by the increasing deaths and massive suffering caused by the ongoing strike by doctors and other health workers.
“We call upon the national and county
governments, as well as the medical workers, to engage in genuine and meaningful dialogue to bring the suffering of Kenyans to an end.”
The Council emphasized the importance of establishing a fully functioning IEBC in order to uphold democracy and ensure the integrity of elections. They stressed that the commission must operate independently and be transparent in elections.
“The Constitution does not anticipate a situation where the country is without a capacity to constitute its democratic organs.”
“It is therefore a strong breach of the Constitution that Kenya has now gone for 16 months without a properly constituted Commission, ” the council said.
In addition to the existing challenges faced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), there are currently two constituencies, Banissa and Lagdera, and four wards, Nyamaiwa, Kisa East, Lakezone, and Chewena, that are without Members of National Assembly and Members of County Assembly respectively.
This further highlights the urgent need for a functioning IEBC to address these gaps and ensure fair representation for all constituents.
“This is a breach of the constitutional rights of these Kenyan citizens. In addition, the country is in a state of a constitutional crisis following the breach of the deadline for delimitation of boundaries.”
Further the council urged the government to take the Two Thirds Gender Rule Seriously.
The Constitution of Kenya 2010 enshrined the principle of inclusivity, and requires that no gender should occupy more than two thirds of positions in any elective or appointive organ.
“The persistent failure to implement this provision is not only a denial of the rights of women and men, but also a breach of the Constitution. It is worryingly notable that NADCO did not include the attainment of two thirds gender rule in the Bills they have published.”
“We call upon Parliament to fast track the implementation of the report of the Multi Sectoral Working Group. Let this matter be brought to its logical conclusion.”
