Christian clerics warn of campaign to expel Christians from North Eastern
Leaders from Kenya’s mainstream churches have warned of an organized attempt to expel Christians from certain parts of the country.
The clerics cited Wajir county where they said Christians are forced to live in military camps due to fear.
The leaders also strongly condemned the targeted killing of Christians by the Islamist group Al-Shabaab, even as they called for peace and tolerance among religious groups.
“While urging our Christians to be peacemakers, we will not remain silent as they continue being massacred,” the church leaders said in a joint statement.
PROFILING AND ISOLATION
They said there is systematic profiling, isolation and massacre of Christians in different parts of the country and called for a stop.
The clerics spoke during a visit at Chiromo Mortuary on Thursday afternoon.
They included John Cardinal Njue who represented the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, Reverend Eliud Wabukala of the Anglican Church, Reverend Silas Yego of the African Inland Church, Reverend Joseph Ntombura of the Methodist Church, Reverend David Riitho of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa and Reverend Canon Rosemary Mbogo of the National Council of Churces of Kenya.
Bishop Mark Kariuki of Deliverance Church in Kenya was also present.
“For several months now, we have watched in horror as our flock is attacked in their places of worship…innocent Kenyans butchered as they believe in Christ…” the leaders said in the joint statement issued at Chiromo Mortuary.
MINISTER BROKE DOWN
Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Amina Mohammed who also visited the mortuary broke down as she consoled the bereaved families.
The church leaders expressed regret that most of those killed during last week’s attack at Garissa University College by Al-Shabaab militants were young Christians in a prayer session.
They demanded a stop in the use of derogatory language in reference to other religions, calling for tolerance regardless of religious affiliation or origin.