President Uhuru Kenyatta has instructed school administrators to avoid discriminating against children based on their religious views, citing the Kenyan Constitution of 2010.
During a speech at the Moi International Sports Complex in Kasarani on Sunday to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Akurinu Church, the President asked school principals to respect all pupils’ religious views, conventions, and traditions.
“When you look at various religions, you will notice that they all adhere to particular beliefs, conventions, and traditions. For example, our Muslim brothers and sisters dress in a way that represents their beliefs. The Sikhs are no exception.
“I want to tell the school principals who have been discriminating against our Akurinu brothers and sisters because they wear turbans to school to stop.” It’s not justifiable.
There is no law that says a person cannot identify themselves according to their faith in school, the hospital, or the workplace.
President Kenyatta stated that pupils should be allowed to express their religious ideas in order to strengthen their faith in God.
“Our constitution guarantees everyone’s rights, and they must be protected.”
“Everyone has a right, and we want to defend that right so that our children may grow up to be confident people who recognize that their faith is their right,” stated the President.
He praised the Akurinu church for being at the vanguard of gospel spread, noting that the church’s membership had expanded to 1.5 million since its inception in 1922.
“We’ve come to thank God for directing and bringing us to this point, where we’re celebrating 100 years of his work.”
Akurinu Church was founded by one of us, a Kenyan who successfully spread the gospel, and we now have 1.5 million followers. It hasn’t been an easy road.
“It’s been difficult, but with God’s grace, we’ve gotten to where we are now,” he said.
The President also praised the leadership of the church for supporting education and spearheading numerous development programs that have contributed to the country’s socioeconomic success.
“You have a generation that not only proclaims the gospel but also works in diverse spheres of human development.” Among them are doctors, engineers, government servants, police officers, and lawyers.
“As we celebrate our 100th anniversary, we thank God.” Thank you to everyone who started this journey, and we hope that just as the Bible was passed down from an elder who recently celebrated 100 years of birth to a young person, this gospel will be passed down for another 100 years,” President Kenyatta added.
President Kenyatta announced the appointment of many Akurinu Church leaders to governmental organizations during the occasion, including David Kiarie Mburu as chairperson of the Kenya Tea Development Authority.
Others include Ibrahim Jeremiah Macharia, Secretary General of the Akurinu Church, who was appointed as a Board Member of the Postal Corporation of Kenya, Samuel Thiong’o, Chairman of the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority, and Eunice Njeri Njau, Council Member of the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC).
Raila Odinga, Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Alliance Presidential candidate, praised the Akurinu Church for championing Kenya’s liberation from colonial masters, noting that their foresight in integrating Christianity into African culture has enabled the country to progress while preserving its heritage.
“The Akurinu started out as a group of freedom fighters fighting for our independence.” They began by stating that Christianity must be ingrained in African culture and preached in an African manner.
There have been people slaughtered for their faith, and some have gone to the jungle to fight for our independence, but they were Akurinu.
“Later after independence, they did not engage in seizing other people’s property such as land, and now they have their children and grandchildren who have gone to school and are fully in charge of God’s work,” he explained.
Martha Karua, Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya’s running mate, urged the Akurinu Church to pray for the country during this election season, adding the Alliance is ready to collaborate with the church for the country’s progress.
Archbishop Apollo Gachau, national chairman of the Akurinu Church, praised President Kenyatta for his support for the church and assured him of the organization’s dedication to the unity of all Kenyans.
Several leaders and top government officials also attended the occasion.