Church faults Parliament on amendments

By Job Weru and Antony Gitonga

The Catholic Church has accused Parliament of sneaking amendments that are insensitive to Kenyans.

The Archbishop of Nairobi John Cardinal Njue said the lawmakers have lost touch with the needs of their people and were out to propel their selfish interests.

Speaking at Mathari Complex in Nyeri during Mary Immaculate celebrations, Njue called on MPs to put their selfish interests aside and concentrate on what was of importance to the people.

“This is a passionate appeal to our leaders that they should do things for the interest of the nation. Let them focus on the needs of the people who elected them,” he said.

Njue was accompanied by Nyeri Archbishop Peter Kairo and Archdiocese Vicar General Fr S Gichuki and other clergy.

The leaders called on Kenyans to treat each other with dignity and have respect for each other.

Njue and Kairo also accused parents of abdicating their roles, leading youths to immorality, alcoholism and recruitment into organised gangs.

The Cardinal said parents no longer pay attention to their children, while they (youths) lack role models.

Kairo said alcoholism was to blame for breaking marriages and dwindling education standards.

“Our children have lacked role models and good morals from our leaders,” he said.

Women leaders

At the same time, women leaders from Nyandarua and Nakuru counties have lashed out at Parliament terming it a disgrace.

The over 100 women leaders said they were disturbed by the manner in which MPs were conducting business in Parliament.

According to their representative Lydia Githendu, the move by Parliament to amend the Elections Act and the Political Parties Act sent a wrong signal to Kenyans.

“We note with concern that MPs whose core business is to formulate laws supposedly did not have time to debate critical Bills for the implementation of the Constitution,” she said.

They called on President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to dissolve the House and call for fresh elections as the current Parliament was divided and it was only passing Bills that suited their own interests.

They said this was the wrong time for MPs to change election laws.

According to them, Kenyan women have been disadvantaged in regard to higher education and the proposed amendments were meant to lock out potential women candidates.

The women were addressing the Press in Naivasha during the opening of a three-day workshop on women leadership organised by the Women Political Alliance Kenya.