Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit asks politicians to refrain from appealing to tribal and sectarian passions as the country prepares for national elections

The Primate of the Anglican Church of Kenya, the Most Rev. Jackson Ole Sapit, has urged Kenya’s political leaders to conduct themselves in a mature, non-violent manner and avoid any forms of hate speech” as the country prepares for national elections. In a “Letter to the Nation” released on 29 Sept 2016 at the close of the provincial standing committee meeting, Archbishop Sapit applauded President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga for “working hard to resolve the tension that has built up in the country in the clamour for electoral reforms” and praised the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission for “taking the bold step and agreeing to a negotiated process for their transition so as to rebuild public trust and confidence in the electoral body.” National elections over the past two decades have been marked by tribal and sectarian violence. Past archbishops have served as mediators between the factions as the ACK draws its members from all tribes and regions of the country. Archbishop Sapit, a member of the Maasai tribe, stated the church would “promote peaceful and orderly elections by participating in civic education, encouraging voters to register and in observing the conduct of the general elections as observers.”

Press Statement 29.09.2016 by George Conger on Scribd