“Cast your vote and then go home”: Catholic Archbishop to Electorate in Kenya

On August 9, the electorate in Kenya will be expected to vote for their President, Governors, Senators, Women Representatives, Members of Parliament (MPs), and Members of County Assemblies (MCAs). 

In the just over 2min video recording, Archbishop Muheria cautions against voter apathy and adds that elections are “a moment of blessing”. 

“Let us go out and cast our votes; do not remain at home. Be ready to go and make the sacrifice to go and cast your vote on the day of the election,” the Local Ordinary of Nyeri Diocese who doubles as the chairman of the Commission for Social Communications of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) says.

“Your not going to vote, is in itself not going to build our nation,” he further emphasizes.

The 59-year-old member of Opus Dei who started his Episcopal Ministry in January 2004 as the Bishop of Kenya’s Embu Diocese urges the Kenyan electorate to “be led by your conscience”.

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“Don't be led by money; don't be bribed; don't sell your vote. Do not let yourself be influenced by just rhetoric but go on conscience and see which leader you are going to choose,” Archbishop Muheria says in the video recording that the Kenya Catholic Media Network published August 2.

He continues, “As we cast our votes, let us be led by ideas. The leader with ideas, a leader who can work with others, a leader who can listen to counsel, those are the kind of leaders we want at all levels.”

While Kenyans might find those vying for the elective posts not being “up to standards”, there is need to look for leaders “we can work with”, Archbishop Muheria says.

“Though he (political candidate) may not be as we would have loved and as we work with them, we will be able to build a nation for all of us,” the Kenyan Catholic Church leader further says.

Catholic Bishops in Kenya have been vocal about the upcoming elections. In their July 30 Sunday message, KCCB members urged political candidates in the East African country to prepare their respective supporters to accept the outcome of the August 9 polls. 

“Candidates should prepare their supporters for any result – successful or unsuccessful. Candidates have to play their civic role by deliberate strategies that assure their supporters, that whatever the outcome, life must continue,” KCCB members said.

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.