Global Ministries

Interview with Rev. Nicta Lubaale, General Secretary of the Organization of African Instituted Churches based in Nairobi, Kenya

BSR has also been involved in the provision of clean and adequate water in the needy communities of Kenya, especially the semi-arid areas. Through our partnership with Global Ministries, we have to-date drilled six boreholes in Kenya: four in Mutha and Ikutha Divisions, one in Laikipia, and one in Kajiado District.

statement on reconciliation and peace building conference in Liberia

Continuing its efforts for sustainable peace and justice in Africa, the AACC has been present in the four corners of the continent, comforting, speaking out, challenging and keeping alive the light of hope. In this issue, the African Christian Pulse introduces two areas where AACC continued to advocate for peace. The outbreak of war in the eastern provinces of DRC urged AACC to send an ecumenical delegation of church leaders from Burundi, Rwanda, DRC and AACC; they met both President Kabila of DRC and Kagame of Rwanda, and encouraged them to prioritize dialogue and peaceful discussion on issues of mutual concern to both countries. Two major summits of African religious leaders gathered in Accra and Addis to commit themselves to work for lasting peace and challenge the leaders of the countries, the population and the force of order to stand for peace as new religious riots broke out in the north of Nigeria.With hope in all these processes, theAACCechoes the words of Micah, “He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into prunning hooks.” (Micah 4:3).

The National Council of Churches of Kenya, shocked that Cabinet has decided not to establish a Special Tribunal or to refer the matter of post election violence to the International Criminal Court, calls on the President, Prime Ministr, and government "to honourably resign and allow Kenyans to choose new leadership that will steer this country away from impunity and the high potential of national collapse.” DN

The church remains "one of the foundations of hope" in Africa, but it must never lose sight of its prophetic and reconstructive role in societies undergoing rapid change, says the newly elected general secretary of the All Africa Conference of Churches. Speaking before members of the Church World Service-convened Africa Forum on Monday, April 20, at CWS offices in New York City, the Rev. Dr. André Karamaga said while it is true that the church, as a human institution, has its inevitable failings, it can still act as an agent of change and reconciliation. He noted that in recent months African church leaders had been called to help lower tensions between Rwanda and neighboring Congo, an effort he said had succeeded.

The National Council of Churches of Kenya have during their meeting prayerfully reflected on the progress made by the Coalition Government since the signing of the National Accord one year ago. As part of our reflection, we discussed the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation Monitoring Project Report. The report is the product of a research that was commissioned by the African Union Panel of Eminent African Personalities chaired by His Excellency Koffi Annan. In summary, the report demonstrates that the Coalition Government has failed to demonstrate leadership in implementing the Four Agenda Items that were identified by the Serena Team and recommends urgent reforms to safeguard Kenya from becoming a failed state. These findings agree with those of other actors that have unanimously raised critical questions on the performance of the Grand Coalition government.

The situation has worsened in Kenya. The National Council of Churches has charged that due to the crisis of leadership and bad governance under Kenya President and Prime Minister, Kenyans should call for new elections to replace the current parliament. At the same time, the NCCK has launched a campaign to get signatures on a petition to call on Annan to make public the names on a list of suspected election violence ringleaders. “The judiciary, they say, continues to display a lethargy that is making Kenyans seek justice elsewhere." B.T.

Charles Bayer, Pilgrim Place A few days ago I stood on a mountain road overlooking the great Rift Valley, which stretched out far below. 150,000 years ago—give or take a millennium or two—our first ancestors began a slow journey north. Seven of us, representing Church World Service, had journeyed to Kenya to witness a drop of hope taking place in that nation’s ocean of need.