Kisumu
1/12/07
 
CHURCHES IN SHARP EXCHANGES OF ACCUSATION OVER RAILA’S MOU WITH MUSLIM LEADERS IN KENYA.

By Leo Odera Omolo
 
War of words has erupted between leading churches in Kenya. The churches have clearly been divided and branded into ethnic politics.
 
The war of words was sparked last week by the Nairobi based group calling itself Evangelical Christian Association of Kenya (ECK) which had launched scathing attack on the ODM Presidential candidate Raila Amolo Odinga.
 
In a paid-up full-page advertisement published in a local media house, the evangelical group had attacked Raila Odinga over the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement he had made the National Muslim Leaders Forum.
 
In a hard - hitting rejoinder statement issued in Kisumu today by the Nyanza Council of Churches and signed by 23 bishops and head of religious Churches they severely caution the ECK leader Rev Dr. Wellington Mutiso to stop being mischievous with an aim of tainting the name of Raila Odinga for political expedition over the MOU.
 
The Nyanza churches leaders led by the Head of Power of Jesus Around the World Dr. Washington Ogongo Ngede who is also the chairman of the Nyanza Council of Churches challenged Dr. Mutiso to produce the original of the Raila / Muslim leaders MOU or else he should shut up.
 
‘’We demand the original copy and explain to the public about its source. The public is getting bored by the seemingly’’ smear campaign against only one Presidential candidate, namely Raila Odinga.
 
After Hon Raila Odinga has since made public the genuine and true copy of the original MOU, which he had signed with National Muslim Leaders. The MOU contained nothing sinister as claimed Mutiso group.
 
We are taken back by this claim and stretched by its contents. Mutiso had claimed that he had produced and circulated 200,000 of the alleged original MOU signed between Raila and Namlet, but he could not identify the source of his document. It has since then become suspect the Dr. Mutiso and his group are peddling falsified document which is derail of truth whatsoever.
 
We are shocked that some clergymen have since fallen prey of dreadful PNU propaganda and became partisan. The Nation Media Group which had wrongly published a certificate portraying Raila as having denied signing the MOU in Nakuru has since tendered their apology publicly. But despite of all these developments Dr. Mutiso and his group still went ahead meting ill motive against Odinga.
 
The Nyanza Council of Churches represented 200 inter-denominational Churches in the region covering part of Kipsigis, Kisii and Luo Nyanza region.
 
The group said that if the Mutiso group were truly impartial and not biased, they should have equally asked President Kibaki to tell the public what has inspired between his discussion and the Muslim group which had frequented State House in recent past especially during the President’s meeting with Muslim leaders at the Nyali Beach Hotel, Mombasa.
 
The statement is signed by Bishop Dr. W. Ogongo Ngede, Archbishop Dr. Mathews Ajuoga, of the Church of Christ in Africa, Archbishop Sila Owiti (Voice of Salvation and Healing Church), Bishop Mwai Abiero (Anglican Church, Maseno South Diocese), Bishop Joshua Koyo (N.C.C.K. Nyanza), Archbishop Julius Otieno (Living Water Church), Bishop Zephania Ouma Orao (New Nine Church), Rev Eliud Nyakundi (Kenya Assemblies of God), Rev Reuben Dali (Salvation Army), Rev Hesbon Omwandho, Rev Richard Odongo (P.A.G), Bishop George Obul, Bishop Hannington Okoth Olando, Bishop Joshua Kangie, Rev. Lawrence Omambia, Bishop Jason Gor Mirambe, Bishop Barrack Agalo, Rev Benjamin Ochieng’, Bishop Eliakim Mbata, Rev William Ogeu and Apostle David O. Kweyu.
 
They challenged Church leaders to play neutral and impartial games as for as the ongoing electioneering campaign is concerned. They must stop being used as hired mercenaries.
 
Church leaders should not allow themselves to be for hire by the State House agents and propagandists.
 
Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com