Nyanza cleric says he is not partisan in matters of politics.
By Dickson Odhiambo.
JULY 1 2017.
A CLERIC from Nyanza Region has
refuted claims that he is partisan in matters of politics within the region and
the country at large.
Arch Bishop Dr. Washington Ogonyo
Ngede of Power of Jesus around the World says as a religious leader in Nyanza region
and Kenya at large, he is not as partisan as others may think.
In a signed press statement to Newsrooms,
Arch Bishop Ngede says his faith allows him to pray for all people both in
Authority and those who are not and by doing so does not mean that he compromises
his faith or that he supports one candidate in the political arena.
“In my capacity as the Chair of
the Nyanza Council of Church leaders, my prayers are aimed at uniting the
people across the board and not to divide. I am sincerely praying for a very
peace to prevail before, during and after the elections in Nyanza and our country
Kenya in General,” he says.
The cleric who is also the
chairman of the Nyanza Council of Church Leaders has dispelled what he termed
as rumors going round that he is only supporting one gubernatorial Candidate in
Nyanza region terming it a pure lie without any base at all.
Ngede at the same time also refutes
reports and rumors that he is against Nasa Presidential Candidate Raila Amollo
Odinga’s calls for six-piece voting pattern in Nyanza region, saying this is
untrue and baseless because he has never discussed such like a thing with
anyone and whoever is peddling the rumor should stop forthwith.
“I want to reiterate that the
Nasa Presidential Candidate Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga just like any other
Presidential candidate has a right to campaign in any part of the country where
he drums up support for the election of ODM and NASA candidates who are vying
in various positions as this is his duty as the NASA Flag bearer, “he says.
Ngede says Raila has a right to
drum up support for the ODM and NASA Candidates because he is their team leader
and the flag bearer hence the electorates should give him the foot soldiers who
will stand with him at all cost and it is not a sin for him to introduce the
ODM Candidates in the public rallies, adding that if one is not an ODM or NASA
follower he should not attend to their rallies.
The cleric has also strongly
condemned the chaos witnessed so far during political campaigns in some parts
of Nyanza region and some parts of the country, adding that any form of violence is strictly prohibited in the Bible.
“I am appealing to all political
leaders campaigning during this electioneering period to do so peacefully and
without hiring the youths to cause chaos in political rallies where the youths
carry crude weapons such as pangas, Rungus among others with them,” Ngede says,
adding that campaign is not being at war but it is a fair competition where
each politician vying for any seat should sell his policies to the electorates
peacefully.
Ngede at the same time stated that the recent
incident at Aram Market of Rarieda constituency in Siaya County last Monday
where a section of rowdy youths clashed during a political rally addressed by
the Nasa Presidential Candidate Raila Odinga is a very unfortunate one which
should not be encouraged at all cost.
He adds that it is quite shameful
for a section of the youths to heckle and disrupt Nasa Presidential Candidate
Raila Odinga’s rally recently in Rarieda.
“It is also unfortunate that two
weeks ago, a similar incident occurred at Ahero in Nyando Constituency where a
section of rowdy youth also booed and heckled Nyando MP Fred Outa hence chasing
him away from the funeral of Former Nyando MP James Miruka Owuor ,such like
incidences should not be tolerated at all cost,” he concludes.
ENDS:
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