'Stop focusing on gov't positions': Archbishop Muheria urges Ruto to address issues raised by Kenyans
Nyeri Catholic Archdiocese Archbishop Anthony Muheria.
Nyeri Catholic Archdiocese Archbishop
Anthony Muheria has cautioned the political class against squandering the
opportunity handed to them by Kenya’s young populace by allocating themselves to senior government positions in the name of an all-inclusive broad-based approach
to restoring the nation.
Muheria spoke after the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party bagged four cabinet slots in President William
Ruto’s reconstituted cabinet.
A day after President Ruto nominated Minority
Leader Opiyo Wandayi, nominated MP John Mbadi and ODM deputy party leaders Wycliffe
Oparanya and Ali Hassan Joho to his new look Cabinet, Muheria has cautioned the
political class against taking advantage of the situation in the country to
reward themselves, under the guise of a broad-based government meant to
onboard all Kenyans.
He has advised the president to prioritize
integrity among individuals he appoints to serve with him as one of the
demands by Gen Z’s.
The archbishop has cautioned that failure to listen to Kenya’s young population could easily polarize the nation.
“Inclusive conversations are deep listening, deep listening to people who don’t think like you. Deep listening that is broad. That is beyond the leadership of politics, that is with the religious leaders, that is with the young people, that is with the workers, that is with the journalists. It cannot be an instrumented dialogue,” Muheria said.
After a month-long protest by the youth of
the country, Muheria is sceptical about the steps the administration is taking
in addressing issues raised by anti-government protesters particularly when it
comes to the country’s governance.
“Dialogue seems to have gotten the idea
of what is the share that I get. What's in this for me? No, it's an inclusive
discussion. Conversation. Where I listen to what you have to say really. And
when I listen I make it mine and find out how I can find space for what you’ve
told me in my discourse and in my action that is what this country needs,” he
added.
The religious leader asked President Ruto, to
nominate individuals known to have the highest levels of integrity to his
cabinet, and advised him to consult widely and not to rush to make appointments
that will further derail the country’s healing process.
“Integrity is also hearing not what you
want to hear but hearing what is being said and allowing yourself to be
critiqued, criticized, corrected and suggestions to be made to you. Suggestions
that may not be according to your way of thinking but yes will help to build
this noble and great Kenya that all of us really are longing for,” Muheria
noted.
Want to send us a story? SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp 0743570000 or Submit on Citizen Digital or email wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a Comment