Christians in Kenya are coming up to challenge a group of atheists who are demanding for their own national holiday in which they can proclaim that God does not exist and hold “godless parades.”
The group, under its umbrella organisation, Atheists in Kenya Society released a statement on Monday asserting the fact that atheists only comprise about five percent of Kenya’s population is no reason to exclude them from having a national holiday of their own.
They demanded that the government declare Feb. 17 as “Atheist Day.”
According to local media, the group is specifically calling on Fred Matiang’i, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for interior ministry, to formally make the atheist day designation.
“We will use the occasion to show our lack of faith in Gods, by holding Godless Parades in various Countries and also to increase awareness about atheism in Kenya,” Atheists in Kenya Society Vice President Daisy Siongok said in the statement.
Songok stated. “We believe that this will promote freedom of religion as a human right in Kenya and a strategic national interest, in line with Article 27 of Kenya’s Constitution.”
Article 27(4) of the Kenyan constitution explains that the “state shall not discriminate directly or indirectly against any person on any ground, including race, sex, pregnancy, marital status, health status, ethnic or social origin, colour, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, dress, language or birth.”
Siongok’s statement concludes by contending that the Kenyan government “cannot ignore the place [of] atheists in Kenya.”
‘Kenya is God fearing nation’
Since the group issued its statement, Christians have used social media to press against the proposed holiday urging that “Kenya is God fearing nation, no room for atheists.”
“The problem with atheist is that they lack objectivity, in fact their biggest strategy is to fight any other religion except their own,” a Kenyan Christian remarked on social media.
Another, under account name Florence Ntongai wrote: “What would the holiday be for? Other religions get holidays to celebrate or mark their faith. Do they need a day to mark lack of faith or mark non existence of deities or just prove that they exist? Am confused. I think they should mark their disbelief by ignoring religious holidays and working as if it ain’t happening,”
Anthonio Rodriguez said: “Kenya was created by God and if they don’t believe the creator, let them go get their own country and declare as many holidays as they wish.”
“Being an atheist is the toughest game on earth because even the devil believes that there is God but atheist don’t,” Henry Odemba said.
Prezo Nazlin Umar added, “The constitution grants freedom of worship and religion, not of not worshiping, and no religion. They have no constitution protection.”
Joseph Kiminda said: “I don’t know that atheist should be considered citizens, nor should they be considered patriots , This is one nation under God.”
Plea for change in national anthem
According to the CIA World Factbook, Kenya is comprised of about 47 percent Protestant Christians, 23 percent Catholics, 11 percent other Christians, 11 percent Muslim, and 2 percent none.
The atheist group’s request comes as the first words of the Kenyan national anthem specifically call on the “God of all creation” to “bless this our land and nation.”
Atheists in Kenya had previously pushed for the removal of God from the lyrics of the anthem.
“As non-believers, we feel that the National Anthem is not representative of us, and goes against the spirit of the Kenyan Constitution,” Harrison Mumia, president of Atheists in Kenya, said in a statement in 2016. “Removing ‘God’ from the National Anthem will make it inclusive.”
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