AFRICA/KENYA - “A new culture of transparency and accountability”

Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) - “We acknowledge the democratic decision exercised by the majority of Kenyans in passing the new Constitution,” says Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth of Kisimu, President of the Bishops' Commission for Justice and Peace in Kenya, in a message sent to Fides. The new Kenyan Constitution was approved through a referendum held on August 4 (see Fides 6/8/2010).
“With the promulgation of the New Constitution, Kenyans ushered in a new culture of transparency and accountability. However, we are concerned that the continued culture of impunity among political leadership has not changed, making reference to the following issues; unwillingness of legislators to pay taxes, the kind of horse-trading witnessed in and outside Parliament whereby some leaders accused of corruption and other integrity issues are being protected by their colleagues. There are also unmerited public appointments based on tribalism, nepotism and political affiliation,” says Archbishop Okoth.
After recalling how Kenya agreed to subject herself to the provisions of the Rome Statute in pursuing justice for the victims and perpetrators of gross human rights violations and how it created the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission, Archbishop Okoth criticized the “diversionary tactics” used by some Kenyan politicians “to derail the International Criminal Court effort in pursuing justice.” Some Kenyan politicians have been accused by the ICC of supporting serious violence that effected most of Kenya in early 2008.
In regards to this question, Archbishop Okoth proposes several recommendations. First, “intensive Civic Education to help them understand the New Laws. As Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, we are prepared to partner with the Government and other stakeholders towards the realization of this noble objective. Civic education on the Constitution should be infused in the school curriculum at all levels.”
“Since the New Constitution acknowledges the 'Supremacy of the Almighty God' the teaching of religion should be upheld as part of the school curriculum. To effectively do this, we urge the government to recruit more religious education teachers in our schools and forbid tuition on Saturdays and Sundays as a process of implementing the New Laws,” says Archbishop Okoth.
The President of the Justice and Peace Commission concludes by launching an appeal to Kenyan politicians “start living the culture of the New Constitution. This requires that Legislators, Judges and other public servants start paying taxes without any further delay. Public appointments should also be based on merit and due process.” (LM) (Agenzia Fides 23/10/2010)