Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka has recounted how he almost lost his life while trying to enter Unoa grounds in Wote, Makueni County during the Azimio Nationwide Demonstrations.
Speaking during the erection of the Catholic Diocese of Wote and the installation of Paul Kariuki Njiru as its first bishop, Kalonzo recalled that during the protests, the police almost killed him while preventing him from entering the Unoa grounds. Kalonzo said that the new blessings cast on the grounds have a symbolic effect that peace will continue to prevail.
“Here in Wote when you’re getting Installed as the first Bishop of Wote, today has also a symbolic effect, recently we were here during the nationwide demonstrations, and I was almost killed just before we could enter these grounds. I was teargassed even the people of Wote can confirm that there is now a tough battle that was ever fought here compared to that of that day,” Kalonzo said.
Kalonzo pointed out that on that fateful day, people were just exercising their rights and they nearly got killed. Kalonzo said that Azimio listened to the calls by Catholic Bishops led by Archbishop Anthony Muheria to halt the nationwide demonstrations and have a talk with the Kenya Kwanza government.
“The church has a voice, we will be waiting for their input in Bomas on how we can put our country together. This country needs fixing by the church by all of us, and if it is a country under the rule of law but above all under God, we will live with each other peacefully,” he stated.
He congratulated Bishop Kariuki for his installation as the first bishop of the Wote Diocese adding that his installation comes with the wiping of tears from the last occurrences, especially during Maandamano where at least three people from Makueni were shot and killed by the police.
“Your installation symbolizes peace, wiping our tears after being teargassed and we hope that won’t ever happen here again. We pray that there will be no shedding of blood in the quest for freedom. We buried three people one of them was a young boy who was shot in Emali, these things should be behind us and that’s why we agreed to bring this dialogue,” Kalonzo remarked.
The ceremony for the installation of R.T Rev. Paul Kariuki as the first Bishop of the newly created Wote diocese at Unoa grounds was presided over by H.E Hubertus Van Megen, the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan.
The event was attended by thousands of Catholic faithful where Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr hosted various top leaders among them Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper party leader), Cecily Mbarire (Embu Governor), Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos), Julius Malombe (Kitui), Terry Mbaika( Devolution PS), Philomena Mwilu (Deputy Chief Justice), PS Veronica Nduva, Eugene Wamalwa, several Deputy Governors, MPs among other leaders.
