Professor Kivutha Kibwana’s speech was not only informative, but an eye opener to many issues that we face as a citizens of Kenya, members of the body of Christ and members of the body of scholars. He touched on many issues, but I would like to comment on a few of them and disagree where I feel like he fell short or I misunderstood.
I agree with his observation that it is possible to worship God and hold allegiance to one’s cultural norms as long as core biblical doctrines are not compromised, however I feel if we do this we will be opening a Pandora’s box since what has been given to us since the Sunday school days is detaching ourselves from many of our cultural practices.
Kenya lacks a nationalistic consciousness that the populace can rally around, as was the case in the run-up to independence (http://www.daystar.ac.ke, 2011) . This is true to some extent. The truth is that those who took over power from the colonialists, embarked on a deliberate campaign to eliminate any dissenting voice. Among those shunned were Bildad Kaggia, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Gama Pinto, J.M. Kariuki and few others. The trend continued and was perfected by former president Moi after he took over from Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. Collectively we celebrated when these leaders locked out the people who had nationalistic convictions. Their oppressor had embarked on a destructive root that only promoted self interest. One national interest sacrificed at their personal alters was the land equation. Today this issue remains a thorn in the national flesh, with those in power trying to skirt around it when it matters, but misusing it for political mileage.
The constitutional advisor to the president posed a question that is relevant and that must be answered by Christians in Kenya. That does Christendom have leaders who could lay down lives, political and other ambitions for the Country as Dedan Kimathi did during the Mau Mau uprising and help birth a Kenyan nation? Perhaps the question should have been; has Kenya had Christians who laid down their lives and how did we react to that? I would answer in the affirmative. Kenya has in the past had bold and selfless clergymen who laid down their lives for the second liberation of our country. They lived in the dark days when criticism of the Government was a taboo. Such clergymen include: Bishop Muge, Arch Bishop Mannasses Kuria, Bishop Henry Okullu, Rev. Timothy Njoya, and Father Keisar among others. The last one literally laid down his life for the landless. He championed for their rights to the chagrin of those in power during President Moi’s regime.
How did we treat some of these role models of church leadership? Their names in our history books and commentaries are just but footnotes with no deliberate attempt to introduce them to the current generations of youth. President John F. Kennedy once said, "A Nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces, but also by the men it honours, the men it remembers..." Kenya has revealed itself by forgetting the people it produced as soon as they were buried. If this is our culture as a country, how can we inspire those in our midst to be selfless to the extent of dying for the nation?
This could be the reason why the current leaders in Church perfect the game of reacting to issues instead of being proactive. Why the Muge and Okulu generation of Clergy thrived on setting the national agenda the current church leadership are good at fire fighting. We saw that during constitutional review and we are witnessing it again as we await confirmation of those who will serve in the judiciary.
Failure to honour those who championed for our rights has generated more selfish individuals who would rather fight for their own rather than the common good. In the long run, national consciousness has died, confirming the words of President Abraham Lincoln “Any nation that does not honour its heroes will not long endure.” (service, 2011)
REFERENCES
1. http://www.daystar.ac.ke. (2011, May). Retrieved May 29th, 2011, from http://www.daystar.ac.ke/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=346:integrating-faith-and-life-prof-kibwana-gives-lecture-to-phd-students.
2. Service, C. m. (2011). http://www.cmohfoundation.org/. Retrieved 2011, from http://www.cmohfoundation.org/.
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