Kenyan woes may be solved by Pope

As the countdown begins for the Pope’s visit, Kenyans and mostly Catholics have high expectations. The last Pope to visit Kenya was John Paul II in September 1995.

Pope Francis is expected in Kenya on November 25 and will be received by President Uhuru Kenyatta and John Cardinal Njue at the airport.

On November 27, he is expected to address an inter-religional meeting at the Nuncio’s (the Pope representative in Kenya) and later head to University of Nairobi for a holy mass.

He will also address youths from across the country at Kasarani Stadium before heading to Kangemi to inspect some church projects.

The Pope is expected to focus on peace, inclusivity, religious tolerance, the fight against poverty and climate change.

I find the topics relevant, mostly now when Kenya is in turbulence due to hate speech from our political leaders.

If nothing is done urgently, violence may erupt due to ethnic and political intolerance.

If the National Cohesion and Integration Commission doesn’t take quick measures like prosecuting the hate mongers, sanity will be lost to the dogs.

On the issue of inclusivity, the Jubilee Government has been accused of excluding some tribes while offering State jobs. There has been an outcry from communities, which feel they have been marginalised.

Kenyans hope that the Pope will offer solutions on how to curb such instances.

Kenya has also been rocked by claims of discrimination based on religious affiliation. The Pope being a spiritual father is expected to offer advice on how such intolerance can be avoided.

We expect that the Pope will be given the required audience to offer his wise counsel.

It is our hope that Kenyans will reap big from the Holy Father’s visit and that some sense will be pumped into our ignorant political leaders who reap and survive politically from incitement.