Let’s nurture a sense of moral duty to all

Religious leaders are failing the Jamhuri. To understand the enormity of this reality, one needs to look at online commentary on the National Prayer Breakfast held on Thursday. Kenyans mocked the religious leaders and politicians gathered to pray for the country, noting the unholy alliance between thieveing politicians and religious leaders that accept cash donations from the same. The alliance of venality and hypocrisy was exposed for all to see. The chasm between religiosity and status quo bias of our leaders and the lived reality of majority of Kenyans could no longer be ignored.

Throughout history, religion has played an important role in the development of states. Indeed, some scholars have argued that the close relationship between religiosity and statehood was the foundation of the Rule of Law. The king was bound by the same moral and religious code that guided behaviour of his subjects. In addition, religious leaders provided a powerful alternative centre of power. By claiming to speak for God, they had the authority to grant or withdraw legitimacy from secular leaders. Europe, a region with several states that are technically theocracies with state churches, is a great illustration of this fact. Modern European statehood co-evolved with Christianity.