Story and Pictures By Morara
Kebaso
Kenya`s Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has advocated for the
return of more than 400 schools belonging to the African Independent
Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) which were taken away at independence.
 |
| VP Kalonzo addressing a crowd outside the Church |
“I don’t see any reason why AIPCA can’t be given back her
schools, at least to administer them according to the church’s values,” said
the VP who turns out to be the second presidential hopeful to woe the church to
support his bid after Prime Minister, Raila Odinga.
A fortnight ago, the PM met the AIPCA delegation who paid
him a courtesy call in his office bidding to have attention of the next head of
state about the issue of their schools. The PM promised to pursue the matter to
its logical conclusion.
Musyoka admitted before the AIPCA faithful that; it is true
their schools were taken away by the government; “your government” but
reiterated that the issue - that has been raised severally - would be solved.
He said AIPCA’s role in the liberation of Kenya is key and
can’t be overlooked “at all.”
“There is nothing wrong with anything indigenous. You fought
for the independence of this country. The founders of this church prayed for
the liberation of Kenya. And thus, I don’t see any reason why you can’t get
back your schools,” said Musyoka.
In successive regimes, AIPCA has been asking the government
to give back the schools it confiscated from them at independence; so that they
can sponsor them; administer and have their children educated in values they
believe in.
 | |||
| Kalonzo with his spokesman Kaplich Barsito (left). |
“Besides just delivering your letter to the president; I
will personally discuss with him about your request. Personally, I am glad for
what the AIPCA is doing, coming up with a theological college and a
state-of-the-art church are positive developments,” advised the VP.
Musyoka then ventured
into vote hunting in the nearby Bahati estate where he was hosted by a resident
of the area Evelyne Nzembi, a single parent.
The VP was accompanied by Kamukunji MP, Yusuf Hassan; Mwala
legislator, Daniel Muoki; former Makadara MP, Dick Wathika; the newly elected
East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP, Peter Mathuki, former Kenyan
ambassador to Malaysia, David Gachuki Njoka, who is also in Musyoka’s think
tank team.
He took time to sell his presidential agenda to the
residents calling on them to support his State House bid. He reiterated his
calls for the country’s peace as a yardstick for investors to pump money into
the country.
“The greatest gift this country needs is love; peace and
unity, if we have to forge forward as a country. Investors will not fund any
development programmes here if we are a divided country; where communities were
engaged in fighting and tribalism,” said Musyoka on top of a parked pickup
vehicle.
He said it would be so sad for the country to go back to
where it was after elections in 2007 and early 2008. “Let us pray for this
country’s peace because we don’t want to go back to what happened in 2007,” he
added saying; tribalism should be condemned everywhere possible including in
churches.
The VP also called on the residents of Bahati estate to plan
their families to within three children if possible.
“There is no need for any woman to have many children
without a husband. The problems of feeding; clothing and educating them alone
is enough,” Musyoka told a single parent, a resident of Bahati who said she has
three children she is unable to feed.
The VP also said the next government of Kenya will carry on
where President Kibaki stops; implement Vision 2030 to transform Kenya into a
24-hour economy that embraces working in shifts.
No comments:
Post a Comment