Day: June 19, 2023

Religious leaders in Tana River County have called upon preachers and church leaders to undertake theological courses in recognized Bible colleges before preaching to their congregations.

The clerics were speaking at the Hola County Commissioner’s boardroom Monday, while presenting their memoranda to the Committee formed to collect views aimed at regulating religious organizations in the country.

The Committee, chaired by Dr. Eli Rop, was told that for one to be allowed to lead or preach in a church, he or she should have a certificate, diploma, or degree from a Bible college and observe the rights of people in the church.

The Committee also heard that civic education should be undertaken for church members in order to establish whether the teachings in churches were not undermining their right to education, respect for the wellbeing of human rights, and the right to life.

Presenting their views, Evangelical Churches in Kenya Representative Reverend Richard Osoro called on the government to deal with church leaders who preach against human rights and rights to education in their churches, saying the law should only be applied to respective individuals found culpable but should not be punitive to all the church members or occasion the closure of the church all together.

Rev. Osoro also said lack of employment has contributed to many youths joining religious organizations that preach misleading doctrines to their church members.

Speaking at the same meeting, SUPKEM Tana River branch leader Musa Dido blamed the security personnel in the national government for the wrongful branding of Muslim youths as criminals or Al Shabaab agents.

Dido urged the government not to target Muslim youths but to approach SUPKEM leaders who know them better so that the rightful suspects could be presented to the relevant authorities, instead of the government agents going to the mosques to nab the suspects.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Churches have been urged to take charge of mitigating the effects of climate change by growing trees not only in the church compound but also in their respective homes.

Speaking during a tree planting exercise in Baraka Worship Ministries Church in Kitengela, Miss Climate Kenya, Dorcas Naishorua Umaka, said that there is a need for churches to advocate for tree planting as part of their mandate.

‘In as much as we are also working with schools, churches also have collective and follow-up responsibility, which is key when it comes to growing trees. Taking care of the environment has always been emphasized in the church; the time is now ripe for its implementation through tree planting,’ said Naishorua.

Naishorua noted that when trees are grown, they help absorb excess greenhouse gases that are emitted, which is one of the causes of climate change.

Miss Climate Kenya also remarked that combating climate change will also help in addressing retrogressive cultures, especially within pastoralist communities.

‘Climate change has been a contributing factor that has led to a continuous trend in female genital mutilation and early marriages, as when there is drought, the girls are married off in exchange for hay for the livestock, which shouldn’t be the case,’ said Naishorua.

President William Ruto launched a nationwide tree-growing and restoration campaign in December 2022. The target of the campaign is to plant 15 billion trees by the year 2032, with each individual requested to plant 30 trees a year, amounting to 300 trees per person in 10 years.

All stakeholders, including community groups, NGOs, schools, churches, and farmers, are called upon to take active part by raising tree nurseries and planting trees in their compounds and forests in all 47 counties.

Miss Climate Kenya also led congregants at Free Pentecostal Worship Baraka and Paranae Church in planting trees after the service.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The UNDP K and the Swedish Embassy in Kenya, through the Partnership for Peace and Security Kenya (PSK), are in the process of developing a Murang’a County Action Plan on Women’s Peace and Security (WPS).

The action plan cascading from the Kenya National Action Plan (KNAP I) is meant to support transcending foundations of peace and security for inclusive and sustainable development in Kenya for a secure, peaceful, inclusive, and cohesive society.

Addressing a stakeholder’s forum in a Murang’a hotel over the weekend, the Chief Executive Officer of Partnership for Peace and Security, Tony Ng’ang’a, noted that the localization of the action plan that was implemented around UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women’s peace and security will address and respond to the rising needs of women in peace and security in the county.

‘The women’s peace and security agenda is a critical agenda the world over, and that is why the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 that recognizes that armed conflict impacts women differently from men was unanimously adopted by the Security Council in 2000,’ he said.

‘Therefore, he added, the localization of this action plan seeks to achieve and address women’s inclusion in matters of empowerment, increased participation in decision-making, and peace processes in Murang’a County.’

The action plan will provide a framework to amplify the voices of women at the grassroots, country, and national levels and align with the Leave no one behind principle by reaching the furthest first.

‘Once the action plan is developed and endorsed at the county level, it will also seek to strengthen women-led organizations and the existing peace committee structures that will play a huge role in supporting the women’s peace and security processes within the county, ‘he noted.

Ng’ang’a observed that peace is paramount for any well-functioning society and starts with self, goes down to good relations with neighbors, and translates into a well-functioning government, equitable distribution of resources, free flow of information, high levels of human capital, acceptance of others’ rights, a sound business environment, and low levels of corruption.

‘Women’s peace and security agenda is an important conversation as it will help achieve the 2030 agenda for sustainable development goals (SDG) adopted by world leaders in 2015 so as to achieve SDGs 5, 16, and 17 designed to end poverty, hunger, aids, discrimination against women and girls, and prioritize the progress of those who are furthest behind.’

Localization of the action plan on women’s peace and security will also enhance policies that will ensure improved prevention of and response to sexual and gender-based violence in the county that is currently struggling with teen pregnancies, abuse of life through drugs, and violence, amongst others.

Additionally, the action plan revolves around the four pillars of participation and promotion of women at all decision-making levels and institutions, prevention of conflict and all forms of violence, and more so sexual and gender-based violence against girls, women, and vulnerable groups.

Moreover, the protection of women and girls in situations of conflict, relief, and recovery by ensuring the inclusion and participation of women in humanitarian settings through a gender-responsive approach has been highlighted as the fourth pillar of the action plan.

The three-day forum had representation drawn from the national and county governments, the office of the county commissioner, the county assembly, civil society groups, faith-based organizations, women’s groups, and other state and non-state agencies.

Source: Kenya News Agency