Akorino faithful say no to discrimination over turban.

Members of the Akorino faith lead in prayer during the official launch of the Thika Sub-County Aroti Pillars CBO at the Thika Stadium on Sunday. With them is Thika Town MP Eng. Patrick Wainaina (in glasses). 

Members of the Akorino faith have decried the manner in which the society and the government denied them services and privileges as citizens by virtue of donning a turban.

While speaking at the Thika Stadium on Sunday during the launch of the Thika Sub-County Aroti Pillars CBO, the faithful said the country had failed to recognize them as one of their own as most of them failed to benefit on available opportunities due to their faith despite of their large numbers.

“The most recent census shows that members of the Akorino faith in the country number to about 3 million. In Kiambu alone, we have more than 68,000 adult Akorinos. We therefore demand to be accommodated in government and enjoy all the privileges just like other Kenyans without being discriminated because of donning a turban,” said Sarah Kimunyi, a Kiambu nominated MCA and the Aroti Pillars CBO county patron.

Her sentiments were echoed by Murang'a county assembly chief whip Simon Wamwea who urged the Akorino faithful to stand up for their rights and demand a fair share of the “national cake”.

“We can no longer sit back and beg for recognition. We need to also vie for elective posts in a bid to increase our representation. And any time one of our own vies for any seat, it is our duty to back them and offer them full support in their quest,” said Wamwea.

Speaking at the same venue, area MP Eng. Patrick Wainaina who was the Guest of Honour supported their appeal and promised to continue supporting them in all ways.

He took a swipe on a section of religious leaders who had tarnished religious activities through their wayward ways.

“Some religious leaders have become a disgrace to the church and are shaming their fellow clergy and the Gospel with their ungodly behaviour. As much as I do not advocate the for regulation of churches as proposed in a bill by Kangema MP Muturi Kigano, the clergy should take responsibility to discipline rogue leaders amongst them and if need be, excommunicate them altogether,” said the MP.

He urged them not to allow thugs into the pulpit as this would attract negativity against the clergy.

“I encourage you to fully participate in the formation of that bill and I suggest that the clergy be made part of the committee that will be charged with the responsibility to vet church leaders,” he said.

On his part, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria called for the unity of the GEMA Community, as this would be their only guarantee for prosperity.

Even as he supported the spirit of the (President Uluru Kenyatta – Raila Odinga) “Handshake”, Kuria said that it was meaningless if at all it did not translate to development and provision of the basic needs to mwananchi.

“The handshake is only relevant if it gives us the basics,” he said.

Kuria challenged governors from the Mt. Kenya to invest in the coffee industry to help improve the lives of majority of farmers who depended on the crop in the region.