Gathaka, The Bible and Democracy in Africa- Individuals should pay their legal fees and land rates to the Council
itself and not individual employees or councilors. - Individuals to use the land for the development which they had
indicated when being allocated the land. - Any property identified for sale by the Council should be advertised
for tendering and sold to the highest binder. - Elected leaders and top civil servants should not be the main bene-
ficiaries of the land entrusted to the Council.^56
He called on the people to know their rights and demand them and
learn to say No like Nabboth. Gitari pointed out that king Ahab called
the prophet the trouble maker in Israel while in fact he was the minder
of Israel. This is a clear demonstration of Gitari as an advocate for the
poor and the welfare of the country that use the Bible to fight for those
rights. Democracy is about the distribution of resources equitably. This
is what Gitari indicates the Bible to advocate and challenges the authori-
ties using it.
We have picked just a few of Gitari’s published sermons. Since 20th
July, 1975 when he was consecrated and enthroned as Bishop he has
preached numerous sermons and presented unaccountable papers in-
ternationally and nationally. In these presentations he has always based
them from the Bible. The themes of justice and peace, responsible gov-
ernance and protection of the environment, promotion and protection of
human rights and equal distribution of resources, respect for the poor
and marginalized, transparency and integrity issues and all that pertains
to democracy have been tackled in his speeches and sermons. Time and
space does not allow us to enumerate his ministry as Bishop and
Archbishop. He has been at the forefront in the struggle for democracy
and political pluralism in Kenya. This has earned him both friends and
enemies. He has been abused and attacked for his stand. He has re-
mained steadfast and has not wavered in his commitment and love for
Kenya which he says has been prompted by his love for God. In his use
of the Bible he has followed what D.A. Carson advises
It is far better for all Christians to read every part of the Scripture, think it
through on its own terms, discern, so far as possible, its contribution to the
(^56) Gitari, In Season and Out of Season, 107,108.