RELIGIOUS LEADERS CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 000370 SIPDIS E.O.12958: N /A TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF KCOR KE SUBJECT: RELIGIOUS LEADERS CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, RECONCILIATION BUT REMAIN DIVIDED REF: A. 08 Nairobi 2200 ¶B. 07 Nairobi 4652 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. In their first real attempt since the post-election crisis to regain their role as advocates for social change, leaders from the Inter-Religious Forum called on Kenyans to come together for a day of prayer and reflection on February 19. In a transparent attempt to preempt criticism for their lack of progress on rampant corruption and the reform agenda, the Government of Kenya undertook to use the already announced day of prayer for a fundraiser for victims of the recent fires in Nairobi and Molo. Some religious leaders refused to allow the political agenda to be swept under the carpet, however, and used their time at the pulpit to publicly criticize politicians for their failure to provide moral leadership during this crucial time in Kenya's history. The religious leaders' message was right on target, but if they are to rally civil society behind them they will have to restore the credibility they lost by their expressions of political and ethnic favoritism before and after the post-election crisis. These political and ethnic divides will have to be bridged before religious leaders can once again become a powerful force for social change. End Summary. -------------- Prayer Day Turns Acrimonious -------------- ¶2. Kenya?s Inter-Religious Forum (an umbrella organization with Christian, Muslim, and Hindu members) recently called Kenyans together for a National Day of Prayer to be held on February 19. The day of prayer - themed "God Restore Our Nation" - was intended partly to remember the victims of the recent fires in Nairobi and Molo that killed scores of Kenyans, but also to enjoin political leaders to do better by the Kenyan people in light of the recent fuel and maize scandals and the government?s failure to create a special tribunal to bring those who had encouraged, funded or participated in the post-election violence to justice. ¶3. In an apparent attempt to deflect attention from its political failures, the Government of Kenya issued invitations to a prayer meeting/fundraiser that superseded the prayer day event the Inter-Religious Forum had previously announced at the Kenya International Conference Center in Nairobi. President Kibaki summoned political leaders to the event to pay their respects -- and make eye- popping financial contributions -- to the fire victims. ¶4. Some religious leaders attending the event refused to allow attention to be deflected from their political agenda, and when they had an opportunity to speak, they took politicians to task for their failure to take any realistic action on the reform agenda, fight corruption, or address the ethnic divide that led to the post-election violence. Bishop Boniface Adoyo of the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya told leaders that Kenyans are "discouraged, disillusioned, and angry" about their political leadership's failure to respond to food shortages and allegations of corruption. Turning to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga, Adoyo accused both of being "reluctant to punish some of your perceived friends who are corrupt and greedy." Professor Abdulghafur El-Busaidy of the Supreme Council of Kenyan Muslims (SUPKEM) called on political leaders to change, as they were bringing Kenyan communities to the brink of self destruction. ?Instead of reconciling the ethnic divide, they are aggravating it,? he said. ¶5. Politicians appeared surprised to be put on the defensive, but President Kibaki was quick to downplay religious leaders' accusations, saying that the blame game was not a sensible approach. "All of you have jobs to do," Kibaki said, "this is the wrong forum to direct criticisms." (Note: Religious leaders were later invited to participate in a private meeting with political leaders. End Note.) ¶6. After the prayer day event, Anglican Archbishop Benjamin NAIROBI 00000370 002 OF 002 Nzimbi professed his readiness to rally Kenyans into mass action to press the government to tackle corruption and impunity. Catholic Bishop Martin Kivivu added his voice to the growing chorus of religious leaders when he defended his colleagues who spoke out against the government. "Instead of apologising to Kenyans and showing the way forward, [political leaders] started by challenging church leaders, who had no ill motive other than pointing out what was sinking the country," he said. -------------- Religious Leaders: Heal Thyselves -------------- ¶7. Although their message was right on target, Kenya's religious leaders deserve some of the blame for perpetuating ethnic rivalries (Ref A). Perhaps unwittingly, Vice President Musyoka evoked a case in point during the prayer event when he asked for donations to the victims of the church burning in Kiambaa that occurred in the heat of the post election violence in January 2008. After the tragic 2008 New Year's Day burning of an Assemblies of God church in Kiambaa that killed 50 people, a local Kalenjin NGO collected donations to rebuild the Kikuyu church. Instead of becoming a bridge between the two alienated communities, religious leaders instead bent to pressure from hostile members of the Kikuyu community who took over the reconstruction and have since turned the church into a defiant rallying point (and lucrative fundraising opportunity) for the Kikuyu community. ¶8. In a written statement released on the Day of Prayer that reiterated their calls on the government to promote accountability and make progress on reform agenda, religious leaders recognized their own shortcomings and asked Kenyans for forgiveness for their failure to help build a united, prosperous Kenya. ¶9. Another indication of the extent of ethnic divisions in the religious community came from a team of Quakers doing peace work in the Rift Valley who recently warned of the potential for renewed violence in Uasin Gishu District. In a statement, the team appealed to churches and religious organizations to avoid identifying themselves with specific ethnic groups. ¶10. Conspicuous by his absence at KICC was Catholic Cardinal Njue, who originally rose to prominence as a vociferous advocate of social change during President Moi?s era but has since been accused of pulling his punches. Njue was listed on the program to deliver the closing prayer at the KICC event, but he failed to appear, possibly anticipating the critical tone the forum would take. Since then Njue has publicly criticized his fellow religious leaders for their disrespect and criticism of government officials. -------------- Helping Leaders Walk the Walk -------------- ¶11. Comment: A diverse group of religious leaders who emerged from the post-election crisis less tainted than some of their colleagues now appear to be positioning themselves as vanguards of political reform. If they are to galvanize civil society in the same way their predecessors did in the late 1980s and early 1990s, they will need to work harder to present a united front that can resist the pressure of divisive ethnic - and other - politics. ¶12. Comment, cont.: The prayer day occurred in the context of our continuing high profile efforts to press for full implementation of the reform agenda, including meaningful actions taken to combat corruption. We are continuing our outreach to broad segments of civil society, business leaders, and religious communities to urge their active engagement in bringing fundamental change to Kenya, through peaceful political reform and an end to the culture of impunity. The Ambassador is planning to meet with religious leaders. End Comment. RANNEBERGER