By Gastone Valusi
in Machakos
Catholics faithful from Lower Eastern Kenya and local leaders yesterday converged to seek divine intervention over the effects of bad weather ravaging the region.
They trooped to the Komarock Shrine from all directions to beseech the Almighty God for a swift intervention.
Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Machakos,Norman King'oo led the pleadings and delivered a moving sermon, appealing the two levels of government to urgently send relief food to all areas affected by drought across the country in order to save lives.
Top political leaders including Wiper leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, Machakos Deputy governor, Francis Mwangangi, Machakos county MP, Joyce Kamene as well as Machakos Senator, Agnes Kavindu attended the prayers.
Bishop King'oo said leaders should also ensure the relief supplies were not diverted by greedy persons but were used for the benefit of the hunger stricken citizens.
“I ask Kenyans from all over the country to rise up and pray for our country. We need God to heal our country and open the skies for rains, because with its shortage we are now experiencing hunger. Many families are unable to afford food because the incomes are very low,” said Bishop King’oo. The prayers were interceding for peace and climate as tens of thousands of catholic faithful paid pilgrimage to the Komarock Shrine in Machakos County.
The faithful weathered the heat of the scorching sun on the rocky Hill.
The Bishop called upon Kenyans to set aside their tribal, religious, cultural and political differences to pray for the country’s ailing economy which he noted, had been worsened by unfavorable climatic conditions.
Bishop King'oo said the prevailing difficult economic and political environments posed a major threat on the efforts to foster peaceful coexistence among Kenyans.
The prelate challenged political leaders at all levels to move swiftly and “do what they have to do” in order to rescue Kenyans from the fangs of the prevailing hardships.
“Leaders should have mercy on the people. They should understand that the majority of the citizens are poor and their incomes are low. They have to buy food and send their children to school,” he said.
Bishop King’oo lamented over the sorry state of River Athi, whose water has been condemned due to high levels of pollution despite being the sole lifeline of almost one third of Ukambani residents.
The Bishop lamented that leaders continued to look the other way as the main river continues to be bombarded with industrial and other urban waste.
“God knew that Ukambani is a dry region and that is why he ensured River Athi cuts across to supply the residents with a means of survival. But now we are where we are because the river has been heavily polluted leaving the residents exposed to all manner of dangers including disease and poverty,” he said.
He urged both the national and the county governments to ensure that the river is rehabilitated as soon as possible.
He however urged Christians to remain steadfast in faith and live exemplary lives to please God. “The church should not despair. Let us remain steadfast in faith and trust in God because He understands all our challenges and will surely heal us,” he said.
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