Regaining the values and Appealing to Religious Resources for Social Transformation in Kenya: A Critical and Appreciative Perspective

Abstract

Religion creates a complex part of Kenya as a country. In Kenya, almost all aspects of life; social, political, and commercial life are punctuated with religious lexes and rituals. Whereas Kenya and Africa as a whole are immersed in religiosity, poverty, ethnic politics, tribalism, and bribery are prevalent in African countries and the list cannot be complete without mentioning them. The inquiry thus arises as to whether African religiosity gives inducement to corruption and poverty or religion contributes to people’s involvement in corruption, poverty, and tribalism and how can religion be used to transform the country? By using the concept of religion, this paper will explore in what sense religion can be said to be a way of life for Africans; investigate why there is a loss of religious morals in the contemporary Kenyan society. Thereafter, the study will sort to appreciate the role religion can perform in the social change in Kenya and how resources of religion can be reclaimed and involved in the change of the Kenyan society. The paper will argue that even though religion seems to be a predicament to social disharmony expressed in issues such as corruption, conflict, and poverty in Kenya, it remains a vital constituent of ‘Africanness’ and may well contribute to social transformation by permeating the economic, political, and social life of the people.