Church wants President Uhuru Kenyatta to take charge, alarmed by corruption and tribalism

The chairman Evangelical Alliance of Kenya Bishop Mark Kariuki (L) has a word with Bishop Winnie Owiti (C) and Connie Kivuti from the alliance before addressing the press at Morendat Training center in Naivasha. The church accused the leadership of the country of abdicating its role and instead engaging in looting. PHOTO: ANTONY GITONGA/STANDARD

NAKURU: The church is now accusing the country's leadership of abdicating its role and instead engaging in looting of the national and county coffers.

The Evangelical Alliance of Kenya now want the President Uhuru Kenyatta to take charge noting that the country is slowly sinking into dictatorship, corruption, and tribalism.

The Bishops from across the country said they will be launching the national transformation campaigns to reclaim the country's lost glory and trust.

This emerged on Wednesday at the end of a three day workshop for the religious leaders held at Morendat Training center in Naivasha.

According to the alliance chairman Bishop Mark Kariuki, the church was deeply worried over the country state of affairs.

Kariuki challenged the head of state to sack all those involved in corruption and to fully take the reigns of the country before it went to the dogs.

"We ask the president to take bold steps and reign in on those in his government who are inept and corrupt without fear, favor or ill will," he said.

Kariuki at the same time called for the reduction of counties and the number of Mps through the amendment of the constitution to manageable levels adding that they had contributed to the current high wage bill.

"Through the national transformation campaigns we shall name and shame all politicians and public servants who abuse office or are involved in corruption," he said.

The sentiments were echoed by Bishop Winnie Owiti who said that tribalism was now deeply entrenched in the county disguised as devolution.

She termed the passing of the 2010 constitution as a grave mistake noting that it had done away with one dictator and instead introduced 350 dictators through the national assembly.

"The structures of the national and county governments are cumbersome and unattainable while the role of the senate is ineffectual as a check on the national assembly," he said.

On his part, Bishop Joseph Likavo said that the economy was overburdened with huge debts, high and escalating interest rates and uncompetitive cost of doing business.

"Graft and wastage is bleeding the country dry yet the EACC is crippled and cannot take action to those involved in corruption," he said.

The alliance treasurer Bishop Kepha Omae questioned the ongoing prayer rallies in support of the deputy president William Ruto over the ICC case.

He said that the prayers were polarizing the country adding that political statements emerging from the politicians were worrying.

"We support the move to pray for the country and its leaders but we are concerned over the political statements emerging from the meetings," he said.

The alliance secretary general Connie Kivuti said that the transformative agenda will be launched on the 1st-3rd of December at KICC which would be followed by national dialogue.

"The event will be graced by the president of the world evangelical alliance as well as over 5,000 delegates and we all on Kenyans to support this effort," she said.