The Government and the Church have a collaborative role in tackling social ills and economically empowering communities, President Mwai Kibaki has said after a meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, report of the meeting Wed, 22 states:
President Kibaki made the remarks at his Harambee House Office Tuesday when he met and held discussions with the Archbishop of Canterbury and World leader of the Anglican Church Dr Rowan Williams.
Expressing the Government’s commitment to working closely with the Church for the improvement of the living standards of Kenyans, President Kibaki thanked the Anglican Church for initiating many development projects in the country aimed at empowering citizens.
He thanked the church for complementing Government efforts in developing various social sectors particularly in education by establishing learning institutions.
During the occasion, the Head of State urged the church to focus in building schools in remote parts of the country especially among the nomadic communities and to implement projects aimed at empowering the country’s youth.
Assuring that the new Constitution provided for freedom of worship among other rights, President Kibaki expressed confidence that the Anglican fraternity and Kenyans in general would realize their full potential and make their rightful contribution in national development.
The President also asked the church to ensure their followers are well grounded in true Christian virtues so as to shield them from misleading teachings of false spiritual leaders.
President Kibaki further advocated for interfaith collaboration in development and also in efforts to eradicate social ills afflicting the modern society adding that all religions share same foundational principles.
The Head of State, moreover, assured that the Government would not tolerate corrupt civil servants who squandered public funds.
Noting that the Government appreciates the significant role played by the international community in support of development projects in the country, President Kibaki asserted that anyone who misappropriates public funds must be held accountable.
On his part Archbishop Williams said the Anglican Church was committed to the socio-economic welfare of the society and looked forward to collaborating with the Government in the empowerment of communities.
He said that the church was devoted to ensuring that both evangelization and community empowerment were successfully realized based on strong Christian values.
Among the sectors that the Church has established projects to benefit wananchi include community based health care, advocacy, disaster management and environmental stewardship.
Other projects that support government’s development efforts in poverty alleviation include biogas generation, drilling of boreholes in dry areas, construction of schools, colleges and health clinics across the country.
In attendance were Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Amb. Francis Muthaura, Internal Security Permanent Secretary, Francis Kimemia and Acting Foreign Affairs PS, Amb. Patrick Wamoto.
The Archbishop was accompanied by Head of Anglican Church in Kenya, Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, British High Commissioner to Kenya Rob Macaire and other Bishops from various dioceses in the country.