The Anglican Church of Kenya, through her Social Transformation arm -Anglican Development Services (Kenya) has partnered with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC); and the Family Health International (FHI) 360 on an intercommunal peacebuilding program in the Conflict prone areas within Narok County. Funded by the USAID through FHI 360, the program seeks to promote social and ethnic cohesion among communities living along the border areas.  Coming after the area recently witnessed a flare-up in clashes and tensions that claimed the lives of 9 people, the one-month long program will facilitate Inter-communal dialogue involving representatives from the various communities living within the area.

By design, the program will gather community groups in Narok South and North Sub-counties within the larger Narok County with a view to:

1. Establish consensus on the causes of inter-communal conflicts and propose homegrown solutions to address the conflicts.
2. Domesticate a recently endorsed community Peace Accord.
3. Develop community work plans for sustaining peace in the area.

The first in a series of community dialogue forums was held at the Ololoipangi Primary school in Oldanganyiro Location, Narok South sub-County on the 24^th of June, 2020. The meeting brought together 71 members of the Ogiek, Maasai, Kipsigis and Abagusii communities. In attendance were Representatives from the NCIC led by Commissioner Sam Kona, ACK Diocese of Kericho led by Bishop Ernest Ng’eno, ADS Fraternity led by Bwibo Adieri-ADS -K Executive Director, FHI 360 led by the Grants Manager Joel Gakuo; as was the Narok South Subcounty administration and security teams led by the Deputy County Commissioner, Felix Kisalu.

Among the issues that were highlighted as causes of the clashes were Land conflicts, Cattle theft, political interference, Destruction and theft of crops, invasions by Internally displaced persons from the Mau Forest; and High availability of alcohol. The Government has also stepped up efforts to resolve some of the issues that have long bedeviled the area with the Deputy County Commissioner, Felix Kisalu welcoming the partnership, as a ‘timely intervention’ in restoring lasting peace and healing. The Rt. Rev. Ernest Ng’eno (Kericho Diocese-under which the area falls) urged the community members to regard unity as-the greatest asset they hold to inter-communal coexistence. On his part, NCIC commissioner Sam Kona challenged the residents to live in harmony as it was an ingredient to National Cohesion.

As the heap of soil on her father’s grave sinks deeper into the ground, Mercy’s family forges into a future with profound memories. She doesn’t, however, have much strength to even get close to the gravesite. This, ‘is no such pleasant memory,’ She says. She describes him as ‘loving, caring and a pillar.’ Having gotten a child while in form 3, her father supported her to complete her high school studies. He provided everything for her and her baby. He himself had not gone much through school, but he encouraged Mercy and her siblings to value education.

As communities living within the Transmara West Sub-county of Narok County reel from the recent Inter Clan Clashes, many families struggle with the reality of having lost loved ones. One such is Mercy Paranai’s. Mercy is the 2nd born daughter in a family of 15. She is also also a young mother. Hers is a story of how the clashes, pitting the Uasin Gishu and Syria Maasai clans, have caused pains to the locals. Mercy’s Father was killed last year while on a mission to stop some youths from the two clans from fighting.

In September 2019, clashes broke out between two Maasai clans in the Transmara West Region. These clashes arose from border and land issues. As the disagreements brew, and on the fateful day, a group of young morans engaged in a battle that claimed the life of Mercy’s father. He was ambushed and shot using an arrow. He left behind two wives with 15 children.

Mercy used to work in a nearby school as an ECDE teacher but was forced to quit as the school was located within the Syria Clan. Her mother became the sole provider. She engages in small scale business activities in a nearby market. Mercy’s dream of pursuing further studies was cut short as the family was forced to adjust to the new reality of competing priorities.

Being a young person, Mercy says much needs to be done to ensure gender and youth integration in peace building efforts within the region. She explains that most youth in the area may not be having any other meaningful engagements that could deter them from the vice. This “makes them susceptible to exploitation by individuals who benefit from the clashes, some within the political class,” she adds.

Mercy joined the local peace networks within the area which work with ADS Kenya and the ACK Faith Church, Kilgoris to implement peace activities in the region. She says that when “all members of the society are engaged; we are able to embrace dialogue to address some of the issues that we are faced with.”

The 5^th Edition of the ‘A Moment with Christ’ Worship session went down at the ACK Emmanuel Church Karuri Grounds in Banana, Kiambu County on the 15th December, 2019. Organized by the Worship Feel Group, the event brought together about 4,000 people, mostly youth. The event was also graced by Bishops Charles Muturi (Mt. Kenya South), Cleti Ogeti (Bishop of The Church-ACK), Vithalis Yusuph (Diocese of Biharamulo, Tanzania), clergy, and the Governor of Kiambu County, James Nyoro. The sermon was delivered by Rev. Peter Njoroge.

³⁶ One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, so Jesus went into the Pharisee’s house and sat at the table. ³⁷  A sinful woman in the town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house. So she brought an alabaster jar of perfume ³⁸ and stood behind Jesus at his feet, crying. She began to wash his feet with her tears, and she dried them with her hair, kissing them many times and rubbing them with the perfume. ³⁹ When the Pharisee who asked Jesus to come to his house saw this, he thought to himself, “If Jesus were a prophet, he would know that the woman touching him is a sinner!”

Luke 7:36-50

A Moment with Christ is a praise and worship movement spearheaded by the Feel Worship group, made up of youths within the ACK Diocese of Mt. Kenya South. With a membership of a little over 300 people, the group brings together youth with diverse giftings to serve in ministry both at Group and Church levels. It was founded in early 2018 merely as a platform of praise and worship team members from various churches to fellowship together, but has eventually expanded to hosting public worship gatherings.

The Bishop of the ACK Diocese of Mt. Kenya South- Rt. Rev. Charles Muturi is the Group Chairperson. The group plans to roll out its activities to Dioceses across the country.

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE ARCHBISHOP OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF KENYA ON THE REPORT OF THE BUILDING BRIDGES INITIATIVE (BBI) TASK FORCE

HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NATION TO DIALOGUE TOGETHER

Isaiah Chapter 1 Verses 18: “Come now and Let us reason together”

Preamble

Dear Kenyans, we send you Good will greetings at this point in time as we get in to the festive season. We thank God for the rains we have received in the recent months of the Year 2019. While a blessing to the country, the rains have also led to loss of lives and injuries, an indication of the urgent need for the country to enhance its disaster preparedness and response mechanisms.

We send our condolences to the families that have lost loved ones as a result of the effects of the rains. For those injured we pray that they will quickly recover; and for those who lost property we pray that they will start anew.   

It is appropriate that we take this period of festivities, celebration and renewing our faith to also reflect, both individually and collectively, on the state of our Country.

The Building Bridges Initiative (BBI)

On 27^th November 2019 the President launched the report of the BBI.   We commend the BBI team for the report and both the President and former Prime Minister for the handshake that set the stage for this report, which gives Kenyans an opportunity to reflect on and engage on addressing issues that continue to  challenge us as a society.

The BBI Report identifies several critical issues that we must openly discuss as members of the Kenyan Family so as to ensure deeper cohesion and progress. These include:

Need for us as a country to address ourselves to the dishonesty in our approach to both public and private life. We need openness and honesty in both our private lives and our public engagements. Dishonesty is counter-productive and a big contributor to our current state of affairs.

Respect for our ethnic diversity. We do not choose the tribes into which we are born. In December 1963 we committed ourselves to build one strong Nation of Kenya together. Since then we continuously see ourselves as members of different tribes in competition with each other, more than members of one nation called Kenya. We have to recognize that divided we shall disintegrate. Only when we are  united shall  we prevail.

The majority of our population is youth, and many of them require gainful engagement and employment. We must give priority to opportunities for youth to participate constructively in the building of our Nation, at all levels.

 Our national economy must compete successfully at local, regional, continental and global levels. To succeed, we must apply ways and means to reduce costs especially recurrent while boosting income at personal, family and national levels and review our borrowing both locally and internationally. This is the only way toward economic sustainability.

The corruption vice has affected the foundation of nationhood. Corruption undermines national stability and national sustainability. Every Kenyan must endeavor to live honestly, work diligently, and live within our means.

As individuals and as a nation we must focus more on our necessities, and less on luxuries. In that way as a nation we can invest for the sake of our youth now and in the future, at all levels, including the Churches.

We need more statesmanship and less politics of brinkmanship. Statesmanship focuses on the greater good for all. Politics focuses on individual interests.

Opportunity

The BBI  report  is aptly titled toward a United Kenya: From a nation of blood ties to a nation of ideals. It provides the Kenya Nation with new hope. It is an opportunity for honest national discourse and conversation  on what is ailing our beloved Nation, and also on what needs to be done for our nation to prosper.

I urge all Kenyans to take time to read the BBI Report, be positive and have conversation  about it at  every level. The conversation must focus on what we can do with the problems the report documents, which of its recommendations help us to address those problems, and how we can implement those recommendations and move the country forward.

We also recognize that there may be areas where Kenyans feel some aspects may not be fully or accurately diagnosed. The opportunity for conversation is to enable us build consensus on solving all the problems that face us as a nation in an atmosphere that divides and not separates. I urge all people to discuss with a view to building and not destroying our nation.

I urge the President to reconsider his decision to extend the terms of the BBI Team. The team has done a commendable job. They  should not be required to shepherd the process of  trying to identify whatever lose ends exist in the process and rolling out the implementation process. This should instead be handed to a team of experts, with youth representation. We also urge the inclusion of those who have felt left out in the previous BBI process.

As a church, we commit to playing our part in furthering the aspirations of the BBI toward tangible outcomes as aspired in the BBI Report.

In conclusion, we urge all citizens to drive carefully during this festive season to enhance safety on our roads.

Signed on this date, 16^th December 2019 at the All Saints Cathedral, Nairobi

The Most Rev. Dr. Jackson Ole Sapit,

Archbishop of Kenya, Bishop of the All Saints Diocese, Bishop -in- Ordinary to the Kenya Defence  Forces.

Discussions around wholesome Human Development dominated two conference that were convened by the Anglican Church of Kenya in August. The conferences
(separately) targeted the Clergy and youths drawn from across Anglican Dioceses in the country.

Kenya Anglican Youth Organization (KAYO) conference

The first, the Provincial Kenya Anglican Youth Organization (KAYO) conference gathered about 3000 youths at the Bungoma High school in Bungoma County- for three days. This was from the 12th -15th of August. Officially opened by the ACK Archbishop, the Most Rev. Dr. Jackson Ole Sapit, the conference covered various topics that affect the youths in the modern times and sought to affirm their role in shaping the future of the Country. During the opening ceremony, the Archbishop urged the youths to recognize that “they held an integral place in helping address some of the challenges that the world faces today.” This, he explained, called on them to be well rounded and founded in character that modeled them into leaders.
The Deputy President, Dr. William Ruto, who also attended the conference, urged the delegates to shun vices that impaired their ability to participate in the management of the nation with sobriety. He noted that relegating the youth to mere spectators amounted to “assuming that the world was a better place without such an important mass -as the youth.” He applauded the Church for her efforts in modeling future leaders and change makers, grounded in love and commitment to the word of God.

Provincial Anglican Clergy Conference

The 2nd conference that took place was the inaugural Provincial Anglican Clergy Conference which was held at Kabarak University, Nakuru County from the 19th -23rd of August. The conference attracted about 2000 clergy working with the Anglican Church both within and out of the country (including Bishops). Coming in the 2nd year of the implementation of the ACK Decade strategy, the conference was themed ‘Wholesome Sustainability’ which forms a pillar in the strategy.

Speakers emphasized the need for the church to ensure her ministry addressed both the spiritual, Physical and social needs of the people. Conference speakers addressed various issues that must emphasized in the quest by the church to build a wholesome Nation.
The sessions also accorded an opportunity to the delegates to be capacity built on effective ministry delivery and mainstreaming social issues in their ministry to the people through the church. The Guest Speakers included the Archbishop of Nigeria The Most Rev. Benjamin Kwashi, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Zac Niringye (Uganda) among others. The Governor of Nakuru, Lee Kinyanjui also graced the event.

Topics that were covered during the two conferences included Health, Leadership Development, Media and law, stewardship and sustainability, career development, environmental conservation among others.

A visit to the Mumias Diocesan headquarters, located in Mumias Town, reveals a patterned effort to ensure that the serenity of its compound represents its emphasis on conservation, blended into her mission of spreading the gospel. On the 19th of January, 2019 the Green Anglicans’ Movement was launched in the Diocese. An initiative of the wider Anglican Church to encourage environmental conservation, the Green Anglican concept in the Diocese has established its meaning in the well-kept, green Compound. Huge trees provide a shade to the flurry of activities that take place in the purple themed buildings.

The Diocesan Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Wandera says that this ministry is well anchored in the Christian call to be caretakers of God’s Creations. He explains that, “Our service underscores the Christian mandate to protect nature while also exploiting it sustainably.” With a Diocesan Environmental Conservation blueprint already in place, fully backed by synodal approval and adoption, Bishop Wandera observes that “the posterity of nature and its giftings lies in the manner in which the present world interacts with it.”

Tree Nursery and tree Planting

The Diocesan Tree nursery, which provides trees to the community members, has attracted partnership from the County Government of Kakamega, among others institutions. David Ignatius, a Community Facilitator working with the Diocese, explains that Mumias, being a multi-religious Diocese, ecumenical networks have provided the Diocese a mission front that can be used to foster conservation efforts across the area. Plans are also at an advanced stage to establish the 2nd tree nursery within Mumias’ Lubinu Archdeaconry.

Sustainable Land Management

The Diocese has established demonstration farms that are used to demonstrate good Agri-Practices to the people who visit the offices. Dennis says that this has greatly improved the productivity of the area as the community understands how to protect the soil while engaging in agriculture. Trees such as the Gliricidia Sepium (fertilizer Tree) which are grown in the Diocesan Tree nursery help in Nitrogen Fixation.

Green Energy/Solar Power.

The World Bank Energy Progress Report 2019 estimates that around three quarters of the Country is connected to Electricity. With the recent commissioning of the Lake Turkana Wind Project, the Government intends to upscale the use of green energy. Further, renewable energy equipment are Zero Rated so as to encourage its uptake across the Nation. .
Mumias Diocese has partnered with Mwangaza Light, a green energy dealer, to encourage the community to use green energy solutions in their households. This has also been aided by churches which have embraced solar powered solutions in their operations. The Diocesan resource centre has a television set that uses a solar panel as a power source.

Green entrepreneurship

One other exciting thing that one notices at the Bishop Hannington Training Institute part of the expansive Headquarters, are the large numbers of people sitting under the tents spread out in the Institute’s fields. Most of these are either having lunch served at the institute’s eatery or using the internet while enjoying the fresh breeze brought about by the trees in the compound. With the eatery attracting its clientele from the surrounding Government and private offices, this provides a relaxation of enjoying a meal in the freshness of nature. Participants of conferences held here also use the tents and shades during group discussions or any other meetings.
The Dioceses also has plans to establish two recreational facilities for street children and other members of the public within the premises. This, Bishop Wandera says affirms the Church’s ministry- incorporated in the provisions of nature. The Ebenezer and Tumaini projects which are being implemented through partnerships with well-wishers, are expected to be completed within the next one year. Synonymous with other facilities in the compound, these two projects bear the beauty of nature as they are all located within a setup of huge trees.