NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 10 – Westlands Member of Parliament Timothy Wanyonyi has urged the clergy to preach peace and tolerance as he drummed up support for his bid to become the next Governor of Nairobi.
Speaking during a meeting with over one hundred bishops on Monday, Wanyonyi stated that this will ensure the August elections are peaceful.
“Every other person goes to church, they seek your guidance and counsel. People believe when you stand on the pulpit and say something it is always believed to be ordained and is the truth. I have been tried and tested in Nairobi and I will be a good governor,” he said.
He further urged them to encourage their congregants to register as voters during the final listing exercise set to commence January 17, 2022, to February 6 after receiving additional funds from Treasury.
“IEBC have announced that they are going to do a second voter registration, we want to use the church to pass the message to the people who have not registered to come out and register in numbers. Tell the people it is their civic right to participate in electing their next leaders,” Wanyonyi said.
The Church and Clergy Association of Kenya chairman Bishop Hudson Ndeda stated that the church will not be silent in the build-up to the elections.
Ndeda explained that they will be rooting for aspirants with good track records.
“The church will not keep quiet in Kenya on matters politics. Every problem that affects Kenyans affects the church as well. People have been blaming us. Indeed we have been quiet but people can now count on us from this election going forward the church will stand in and give directions,” he said.
So far, only four candidates have declared interest to vie for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat namely Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja, former Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru, Businesswoman Agnes Gakure and Wanyonyi.
