"Righteousness exalts a Nation, but Sin is a disgrace to any People" (Proverbs 14:34)

At this time, of pain, horror, sorrow, suffering, insecurity in our beloved country, We as Friends Church in Kenya, being a peace church, are deeply concerned for the safety of all Kenyans and friends visiting Kenya during this time of political and social instability.

We actively oppose all that leads to violence among people and nations. Refusal to fight with weapons is not surrender. We are not passive when threatened by the greedy, the cruel, the tyrant, and the unjust. We will struggle to remove the causes of impasse and confrontation by every means of nonviolent resistance available. We must start with our own hearts and minds. Together, let us reject the clamor of fear and listen to the whisperings of hope.

Our basic principles and values that undergird our concerns compel us to make this call to you, our political leaders.

Truth

Truth is critical to the establishment of legitimacy for the political class, that is, presidency and the opposition, if they are to enjoy the loyalty and respect of all Kenyans. This can only be achieved if the objective truth is that the elections were free, fair, and transparent. For us, "the Spirit of Christ, which leads us into all truth, will never move us to fight and war against any person with outward weapons, neither for the Kingdom of Christ nor for the kingdoms of this world." (Luke 22:49-51), (2nd Corinthians. 10:4)

Peace and Justice

Kenyans are sad, angry, and disillusioned today.

This battle is not about ethnicity per se, rather it is about economic injustice, and the youth across the board bear the brunt of it. There is an icy gap between them and the older age. There was hope and expectation that this nation would be steered towards a more democratic, united, just, and prosperous society, where development would be experienced by all hardworking Kenyans. That hope was rekindled, with their participation in the just-ended elections and the youth in particular saw the possibility of moving forward for the betterment of their lives. They feel cheated. They are expressing anger that the rich are getting richer, while the majority are living on less than one dollar a day. Justice is what they long for.

Simplicity

Quakers believe in modesty, serving humanity in love and harmony. In Kenya, there are gross inequalities in terms of sharing the scarce opportunities and resources. From the looting that has been witnessed across the board, it's clear that the present uprising is not per se ethnic, but rather, to a greater extent, a class struggle. The conspicuous consumption and obnoxious display of wealth of the upper class, in a sea of poverty, have not helped.

The hopes and opportunities for the poor for upward mobility have been frustrated by continuing joblessness and false promises by politicians. The youth are desperate, angry, and impatient. The ordinary Kenyan does not feel or see the effect of the purported 6.5% annual growth of the economy or the benefits of the foreign investors.

We urge all parties to give a listening ear to the people. Through their violence they are communicating a serious message. Please listen respectfully.

Stop the bloodshed

Politicians should avoid using youths in their schemes to create mayhem in society.

Supporters should stop being misused and abused by politicians.

Party leaders must restrain their supporters from engaging in unlawful acts but should engage in peacebuilding.

The older people should be encouraged to counsel and dissuade the youth from violence.

Faith-based institutions should continue sending clear non-partisan, non-inflammatory messages that resonate the life-affirming, faith-filled, truth-and-justice-guided, peace-building, comfort-giving, reconciliation-oriented, repentance-seeking, confession-based messages of their faith.

Next Steps

In view of the above, we make the following proposals:

An independent audit should be done. Whatever the Putcome of the verification, the two parties should abide by the verdict under the guidance of the international arbitrators.

Parliament should facilitate a mechanism for the urgent re-run of the Presidential elections.

Mwai Kibaki should step down from the seat of the presidency to pave way for an interim government comprising all of the parties proportionate to their membership in parliament. The interim government is advised to seek expertise from recognized international institutions such as the African Union, the European Union and others to assist in supervising the re-run.

Peaceful rallies must be allowed and organized to facilitate the healing process. Civil society and religious organizations should have forums to enhance reconciliation through dialogue, counseling and conflict resolution.

In conclusion, we as a Peace Church are committed to the process of national healing. Already we have institutions and programs in place such as: Alternatives to Violence Program (AVP); Trauma Healing; Change Agents for Peace International (CAPI); the Quaker Peace Network, all with the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to help bring about healing and transform relationships.

We call upon all faith based institutions to share in the restoration of a healthy, peaceful, and just society.

God bless Kenya.