Gathaka, The Bible and Democracy in Africatogether. They were from different nationalities as described on the day
of Pentecost (Acts 2:5-11). We see them forming communities where
they really listened to one another and shared their resources ‘to each as
any had need’ (Acts 4:35). Africans never think themselves as individu-
als. One belongs to a family, clan and ethnic community. Each family
and clan have their own ideas and ways of doing things but all these
contribute towards the welfare of the ethnic community. That is why the
Biblical message of a community finds place in the African life. The
community motif in the bible can be used to describe the country in its
pluralism.
Civic Education
In December 1991 the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK)
decided to embark on a massive civic or political education through its
programme of Justice Peace and Reconciliation of which the author was
the senior director. This decision had been reached a few days before the
repealing of section 2A of the constitution of Kenya The project, Educa-
tion for Participatory Democracy, and supported initially by the Hanns
Seidel Foundation of Germany, was aimed at helping Kenyans to under-
stand more about democracy and the need for political pluralism.
Though it was a faith oriented project its benefits were for all Kenyan
citizenry as the NCCK wished to transform them into responsible and
informed citizens participating fully in the socio-economic and political
activities of the country. The issues to be addressed included but not
limited to:
a. Democracy as a way of life
b. Understanding multiparty politics
c. The role of opposition in multiparty parliament
d. Participation in elections
The project was implemented through workshops and seminars, publi-
cations of books and pamphlets.^60 The seminar and workshops were
always having sessions of what the Bible said about the issues at hand.
When addressing issues of elections the favorite Bible study was from
Exodus 18:21 on the qualities and qualifications of the leaders to be
elected. Discussions were held on what the Bible meant by, able, God
fearing, trustworthy and incorruptible. The participants then would take
(^60) Githiga, The Church as the Bulwark against Authoritarianism, p 109.