Nairobi, Kenya, Nov 18, 2016 / 06:02 am
Ahead of Kenya's 2017 elections, the country's Catholic bishops warned about the potential for inflammatory language and politician-driven ethnic tensions to add to violence and endanger the country.
"The well-being and prosperity of our country depends on all of us," the bishops said in a Nov. 11 statement. "This is the only Kenya we have and we must guard our liberties jealously so that those who come after us will find a country where there is peace and harmony. We should never allow few individuals to spoil the peace in Kenya and interfere with our inheritance."
"Together we can build a country that is just and free from corruption, a country that is orderly and respects the rule of law and a country where the dignity of every person is respected and valued," they added.
The statement, titled "For Love of our country, work for peace and unity," was signed by Bishop Philip Anyolo of Homa Bay, chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, according to the Catholic News Agency for Africa.