The Church was yesterday asked to pray for lawmakers to enact legislation that protect Kenyans.

Nairobi Archbishop Ndingi Mwana a'Nzeki said during a mass at the Holy Family Basilica, Nairobi, that such laws should be able to guide Kenyans "to the next life".

He called on lawmakers to be courageous and to labour in Christ's fashion without giving up in the face of disappointments and difficulties. "Without this courage, the world will continue to be a place of suffering".

He asked Kenyans to pray for peace and live as per the demands of the gospel. "Peace must be experienced by an individual before being extended to society," said the prelate.

He added that Christmas was not just about celebration, but a time to renew faith. "In this world, we are in transit as we prepare for eternal life. We, therefore, have to continuously be on the alert".

In another church service, President Moi's failure to appoint a vice-president was linked to fears "in certain quarters of State House" that doing so would greatly threaten the status quo.

The head of the Anglican Church in Kenya, the Rev David Gitari said "some people were suspicious of others likely to succeed them".

The clergyman was delivering a sermon at All Saints Cathedral, Nairobi.

In a speech that touched on the need to address corruption and good governance, the primate said King Herod was, even in old age, very suspicious of people born to succeed him.

"That is why [Malawi's] Kamuzu Banda declared himself President for life to block aspiring presidents. That is why [Zaire's late president] Mobutu Sese Seko hung onto leadership until the power of the gun wiped him out. That is why [US president] Bill Clinton would rather face trial than resign before the last minute of his term."

Turning to Kenya, the Rev Gitari said: "That is why we are unable to have a vice-president."

Telling bank debtors to pay up, and land-profiteers to leave Karura Forest alone, the archbishop said, "the government of the child born on Christmas Day is characterised by justice and righteousness".

He asked why the Asian community was being made the scapegoat for the country's economic woes.

He denied the ACK had decided not to preside over marriages unless prospective couples had been certified Aids-free. However, the church usually advises people planning to marry to undertake voluntary Aids tests first.

Mombasa's Catholic Archbishop John Njenga asked Kenyans to dedicate 1999 to fighting for a new constitutional order that would protect the rights of all.

In a Christmas message to thousands of Catholics at the Holy Ghost cathedral, the prelate warned that "adopting a constitutional document without practicing constitutionalism in governance would be a futile exercise".

Land profiteering, financial scandals, tribalism and witchcraft were the worst evils which continued to hamper development of the country and which led to violation of human rights and justice.

He said some Christians were corrupt, worst land grabbers and perpetrated other evils.

Elsewhere, Christians were challenged to be in the forefront in fighting corruption as we enter into the next millennium.

Eldoret Anglican Bishop, the Rt Rev Thomas Kogo told Christians to make 1999 a year of transparency and "stop corrupting people by giving them "kitu kidogo".

He was speaking during a Christmas mass at St Matthew's pro-cathedral church in the town.

The clergyman called on the police force to open a new chapter of professionalism and asked Christians to pray for the force "so that it can do things right".

The Machakos Catholic Bishop, the Rev Urbanus Kioko, called for concerted efforts among Kenyans to combat poverty.

Saying poverty was deeply entrenched in the community, the bishop said Kenyans should prepare to face the new millennium by ensuring that there is enough food for all.

Bishop Kioko said this when he conducted masses at Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral and the Pota Catholic Church.

The prelate urged Christians to guard against hatred, saying in the absence of love, society was doomed.

A clergyman in Nyamira asked Kenyans implicated in various scandals and other vices to seek God's forgiveness and start 1999 as born again citizens.

Father Lukas Mogi of Nyamira Central Catholic Church asked Christians to pray for those who had sabotaged the country's economy to change their hearts as the new year is ushered in.

He also criticised those who preach Christianity during the day but worship the devil at night.

The church leader said 1999 should be a year of moral change.

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