Atheists fault IEBC for conducting prayers, terms it unconstitutional
The society of Atheists in Kenya (AIK) has faulted the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for conducting prayers on Monday, January 16, 2023, terming the move as unconstitutional.
In a letter written to IEBC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Marjan Hussein Marjan, AIK leader Harrison Mumia said that it would only be important if the group is included in the Post-Election Evaluation report.
He said that during the prayers other religions were given time but AIK was not even represented in the meetings.
“During the launch, it came to our attention that IEBC has a corporate prayer. Article 8 of the Kenyan Constitution prohibits the government and public institutions from the endorsement of any religion,” part of the letter penned to IEBC read.
Mr. Mumia further said that it should be mandatory that prayer policies should never be adopted by public institutions such as the IEBC as this would inevitably discriminate against atheists.
Also read: Kenyan Atheist threaten to sue Governor Sakaja for favouring churches
This is not the first time the society has dismissed matters of prayers in the country as they ask Kenyans to ignore them.
For years during the tenure of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, AIK used to ask Kenyans to distance themselves from calls to hold a national prayer day in the country as he called for peace.
In the statements that were sent to media houses in the country, the atheists termed the calls by the Head of State as mere ‘political gimmicks.’
“The calls which the President says will ostensibly focus on asking for God to guide Kenyans during this challenging period are nothing more than a political gimmick aimed at camouflaging the real challenge facing the country,” one of the statements that Nairobi News saw then read in part.
The group has also been dismissing prayers, saying they cannot solve the problems the country is facing.
The society of Atheists in Kenya (AIK) has faulted the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for conducting prayers on Monday, January 16, 2023, terming the move as unconstitutional.
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In a letter written to IEBC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Marjan Hussein Marjan, AIK leader Harrison Mumia said that it would only be important if the group is included in the Post-Election Evaluation report.
He said that other religions were given time during the prayers, but AIK was not even represented in the meetings.
“During the launch, it came to our attention that IEBC has a corporate prayer. Article 8 of the Kenyan Constitution prohibits the government and public institutions from the endorsement of any religion,” part of the letter penned to IEBC read.
Mr Mumia further said that it should be mandatory that prayer policies should never be adopted by public institutions such as the IEBC as this would inevitably discriminate against atheists.
Also read: Atheists ask president-elect Ruto to promote secularism
This is not the first time the society has dismissed matters of prayers in the country as they ask Kenyans to ignore.
For years during the tenure of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, AIK used to ask Kenyans to distance themselves from calls of holding a national prayer day in the country as he called for peace.
In the statements sent to media houses in the country, the atheists termed the calls by the Head of State as mere ‘political gimmicks.’
“The calls which the President says will ostensibly focus on asking for God to guide Kenyans during this challenging period are nothing more than a political gimmick aimed at camouflaging the real challenge facing the country,” one of the statements that Nairobi News saw read in part.
The group has also been dismissing prayers, saying they cannot solve the problems the country is facing.
Also read: Governor Mutua in trouble with atheists over Martha Karua remarks