Browsing by Author "Wanzala Otieno, James"

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    "Let My People Go ..." Exodus 5:1: The Passion for Social Justice in Kenya.
    (Tangaza University College, 2003) Wanzala Otieno, James
    Human beings enjoy the privilege of being the summit of the Creator's work and they are made in the image and the likeness of God. They are to enjoy the resources of the earth wisely and for their own good. In.Kenyan Society, there is a lot of oppression. This is in the following areas: social, spiritual, economical and political. The people are enchained and they need a "Moses" to be bold enough to tell "Pharaoh" the words of the Lord "Let my people go, so that they may worship me." (Exodus 8:1). I intend to present the current situation in Kenya. The strata in the society, the poor majority who are suffering while the rich minority are enjoying. I intend to look at ways in which the problems can be solved. There are two ways in which people's problems can be viewed: the felt needs and the observed needs. The felt needs are those needs that the people themselves think are most urgent to them, while the observed needs are those that other people feel are necessary for them. The cries of those suffering have intensified and there is need for all of Kenyan society to look at each other as members of one family. Through our baptism we are called to play the prophetic role at this time to liberate the people. In the capital of Kenya there are clear signs of factions, the rich and the poor. It is good to note that already the Church has in place theoretical material that only needs to be implemented. I intend to have three chapters. The first chapter will give the etymological understanding of justice, the divine meaning and significance of social justice. Already there are a number of encyclicals and church documents, not forgetting the pastoral letters of the bishops, that are very good that only need to be implemented. In the second chapter, there will be a spiritual and pastoral input that needs an urgent approach that is strictly geared towards initiating the real process of liberation. This means letting the people be aware of the true liberation that only comes through our Lord Jesus Christ. As spiritual and material beings, we also need to see that a holistic process of liberation is accorded to the people. With Christ as our model, there is need to have reference to how and why he dealt with the suffering people in their time of need by providing materially and spiritually. We too ought to act the way he did. There is an invitation to us all to carry out the will of the Father that we may be truly One, " all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind."' It is only minding the poor in our society that will lead us all to be united and thus strive for the perfection that Christ prayed for, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."