Deputy President, Prof. Kithure Kindiki, has called on political leaders to shun politics of hatred and insults and instead focus on promoting national unity and delivering development to Kenyans.
Kindiki noted that political differences should not be allowed to divide the country, observing that in a democratic society there would always be winners and losers after elections.
He urged leaders and their supporters to respect divergent political opinions and work together for the welfare of citizens regardless of their political affiliations.
“Democracy has winners and losers, but what is important is the unity of the country and service delivery,” Kindiki said.
The Deputy President was speaking at Gaichanjiru Catholic Church in Murang’a County on Sunday during a thanksgiving ceremony to mark 100 years of St. Raphael Gaichanjiru Mission Hospital.
He said the government was committed to implementing development projects across the country, including construction of roads, markets and affordable housing, regardless of the political leanings of a particular region.
“We are doing roads of more than 6,000 kilometres in the country, while markets are also being constructed in all counties,” He said.
Kindiki further called on residents of the Mt. Kenya region to remain united and support the government in its development agenda, saying the region should not allow political differences to undermine its unity.
He said the government was committed to ensuring that development projects reach all parts of the country and urged leaders to concentrate on issues that improve the lives of citizens rather than engaging in divisive politics.
The Deputy President also paid tribute to the Catholic Church for its longstanding contribution to Kenya’s social and economic development.
He said the Church had gone beyond preaching the gospel to empowering communities and supporting the government in providing essential services through the establishment of hospitals, schools, universities and water projects.
“I want to pay tribute to the Catholic Church in Kenya and all over the world for being consistently involved in the welfare of the people,” Kindiki said.
He described the Church as an important partner in the government’s development agenda, noting that faith-based organisations had played a major role in improving the lives of Kenyans.
“The Church is the biggest stakeholder of the Government in matters of development of the nation,” he said, adding that the Government’s responsibility was to serve citizens through the provision of infrastructure and essential services.
Kindiki said the establishment and growth of St. Raphael Gaichanjiru Mission Hospital was a testimony to the contribution of the Catholic Church and missionaries to the development of the country.
He reflected that missionaries arrived in the area in 1903 to spread the Gospel before establishing the hospital in 1925, which has since served generations of residents in the region.
Prof. Kindiki said the milestone would not have been possible without the commitment of the Catholic Church and missionaries who laid the foundation for the institution.
“If it were not for the Catholic Church and the missionaries who came here then, the great work that has been done to serve the residents of this region through this hospital could not have been achieved,” he added.
He assured the church that the government recognized and respected its contribution to national development and would continue working with faith-based organizations in improving the welfare of citizens.
The Deputy President said the Government valued the separation between political activities and religious institutions, noting that churches should remain places where people can worship and seek spiritual nourishment regardless of their political affiliations.
He said the Government would continue partnering with the Church and other faith-based organizations in advancing development and improving the quality of life for Kenyans.
by Bernard Munyao/Florence Kinyua
