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Kenya: Catholic Relief workers say pact offers nation fresh hope

Full text of a statement issued Friday by Bishop Martin Kivuva Musonde of Machakos and Chairman Caritas Kenya on behalf of all 26 Development Coordinators of the Catholic Dioceses of Kenya:

We, the Development Coordinators from 26 Catholic Dioceses, representing the relief and development arm of the Catholic Church (Caritas), meeting in Nairobi from February 26 to 29, 2008, reviewed the current humanitarian crisis in Kenya and shared experiences and daily challenges in our efforts to alleviate the suffering of those affected.

We express our sigh of relief and gratitude at the signing of the political agreement between President Mwai Kibaki and Honarable Raila Odinga after two months of unprecedented unrest in our country. We congratulate all the people, both locally and internationally who supported the mediation process led by his Excellence Kofi Annan. The agreement signed offers fresh hope to our nation and presents us with a real opportunity to reflect on and build on the Kenya we want, built on inclusive governance that embraces the diversity of our nation.

We appeal to our political leaders to work with all civic and religious organizations to effect peace and reconciliation, especially those working at the grassroots and the community levels such as the churches and established council of elders in the next phase of mediation to ensure that peace building and reconciliation are comprehensive and address the root causes of our conflict. Our country is traumatized by what it has seen and we must now work to reconcile our nation while dealing with all that poses a threat to our country in the future. The process of institutional and constitutional reform must be ongoing.

We, as the Caritas family, resolve to engage with other organizations in the peace building and restoration of secure livelihoods. We appeal to the Government of Kenya to urgently work to release a strategy and framework for resettling internally displaced people and returnees, including the long overdue issues of land and resource allocation.

We look to the future with hope echoing our 2008 Lenten campaign “With a New Heart and New Spirit.”

Peace Be with You All – God loves Kenya

By CISA News

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