NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 24 — Archbishop Jackson Sapit has called for the promotion of climate justice through responsible utilization of natural resources.
Sapit who is the primate of the Anglican Church in Kenya made the call in his Palm Sunday Homily at the All Saints’ Cathedral in Nairobi where he emphasized the need for concerted efforts to protect the environment.
He noted that the world is suffering from the effects of climate change because of what he described as the selfish interests of human beings in their pursuit of worldly possessions.
“The call now is for all of us to green the world again and use green energy as opposed to fossil fuels that release and emit carbon into the atmosphere, damaging our world,” he said.
Sapit further appealed to Kenyans to make noble decisions and take individual responsibility to correct the wrongs and transform the world for the better.
The Archbishop also called on politicians to demonstrate servant leadership in their dealings, urging the government to ensure prudent utilization of taxes.
“We expect, with the many taxes that have been introduced, will be translated into service delivery so that it is brought back to us in the form of free education, goods drugs in our hospitals, quality services, good roads and opportunities to grow and thrive as a people,” he added.
“But if it is not translated then the labour of every Kenyan will be labour in vain.”
Accountable leadership
The Archbishop further called out some leaders for not taking their oversight role seriously and failing Kenyans by championing better policies that would contribute to the growth of the nation and her citizenry.
He singled out the recent admission by some leaders on failure to peruse thoroughly through crucial policy documents including the Affordable Housing Bill.
“I think it was just last week, I read from a news item one of our national leaders of the National assembly saying we passed a bill without reading it,” he said.
“What a shame!” Sapit remarked.
The Archbishop stated that Kenyans expect their leaders to read “every word in every bill” so that the decisions they make in those bills become noble decisions on behalf of Kenyans and “the decision to make Kenya a great nation but not a crying nation.”
Further, Archbishop Sapit noted that transformative leadership will have a ripple effect when properly embraced and can transform and give Kenyans hope.
We call upon ourselves and those who are leading and managing the affairs of our nation, that we need to be all noble leaders.
Servant leadership
He asked the policymakers and all those tasked with managing the affairs of the country to use the nobility to make noble decisions that will spur growth and development.
“When we do that, we shall have a nation that is going to be self-sustaining, healthy, prosperous and a nation that is going to spread the message of hope,” he added.
Sapit called on the leaders in the country to learn from the sacrifice of Jesus whom he said willingly suffered for the sake of the world.
“The call to us in leadership is how much are we suffering for the need of the people of this country or we make them suffer for them to enjoy.”
He observed that leadership is a call to servanthood and a call to sacrifice for the needs of others.
Earlier in the day, the Archbishop led a procession to the city centre to commemorate Jesus’ triumphant entry to Jerusalem.
The event marking the beginning of the Holy Week which proceeds the end of Lent sets in motion a series of events to commemorate the passion of Christ and his resurrection according to Christian teachings.