Kenya: Christians call for peace in advance of elections

 The National Council of the Churches of Kenya (NCCK, which includes most of the non-Catholic Christian denominations in the country) has called on all Kenyans to accept peacefully the ruling of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the post-election violence which occurred in late 2007 and early 2008. 

The CPI judges formally charged the Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and the Advisor to the President Francis Muthaura, in addition to the MP William Ruto and the journalist Joshua Arap Sang for murder, crimes against humanity, deportation and persecution based on political affiliation. The indictment was delivered on January 23 by Prosecutor Ekaterina Trendafilova in The Hague, Netherlands.

The violence erupted on December 27, 2007 following the re-election of the out-going President Kibaki challenged by the current Prime Minister Odinga. The clashes caused 1,200 deaths and 600,000 displaced.

The NCCK said: "This indictment should not be considered in any way as an indictment against any community or individual, but a process of seeking justice for the victims of post-election violence". Leaders of the Christian confessions in Kenya call for "moderation and restraint" in the discussions on the CPI's decision and appealed to Kenyans to pray for peace and reconciliation, especially in view of the forthcoming elections. 

Source: FIDES