Church prays for end to draught, hunger, insecurity in Kenya

By Rose Achiego Ande

The Catholic Bishops on 22^nd October 202 prayed for an end to the drought, hunger, and insecurity in Kenya.  The prayers dominated the speeches during the ordination and installation of the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Maralal, Rt. Rev. Hieronymus Joya, which took place at Allamano Grounds at the Cathedral.

In his Homily during the installation Mass, the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan His Excellency Bert Van Megen called on the faithful to pray for Kenyans who are facing starvation owing to prolonged drought in the North Eastern parts of the Country which also includes parts of the Catholic Diocese of Maralal.

“Pray for the people of Maralal who are facing the severe consequences of drought. Thousands of people in the north are struggling with their lives, having sleepless nights on how to feed their children and themselves,” he said adding that others are thirsty and sick, yet desperately looking for ways to feed their families.

Archbishop Megen noted with concern that some of these people who are largely pastoralists had lost their sources of livelihood while searching for greener pastures for their flock. He hence prayed to God to provide rains so as to bring to an end the suffering of the people in the regions where drought had caused the death of people and animals, malnutrition in children, starvation, and diseases.

“The Good Lord should make it rain in the Diocese. A faithful and gracious Lord full of mercy makes it rain over the good and evil. Shower Oh heavens from above and let the skies rain down righteousness. Lord Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, give us safety, pour out water on the thirsty land and streams and dry grounds. Oh God give us safety and security that banditry attacks and stealing and murdering may come to an end so we may live in a secure and safe country,” he prayed.  

He however expressed confidence in the newly ordained Bishop Joya, that he is well vast with the challenges of the Catholic Diocese of Maralal given the fact that he had served in the Diocese before as a Pastoral Coordinator.

Archbishop Megen hailed him as a realist, urging him to be a servant leader who endures suffering and challenges.  “You have to go through pains and challenges in order to come to joy and consolation. A good leader should be blameless, not arrogant, not quick-tempered, not violent, not addicted to alcohol, and not greedy for money. The leader in God’s Church needs to be hospitable, filled with goodness, prudent, upright, one who has self-control and is rooted in the word of God.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Kenya Conference of Bishops (KCCB) and the Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Mombasa Most Rev. Martin Kivuva congratulated Bishop Joya for joining KCCB.

He expressed gratitude to God for giving Marala a bishop and thanked the new bishop for accepting the call to shepherd the people of Maralal. He also thanked the Holy Father Pope Francis for appointing Bishop Joya to join the Collage of Bishops in Kenya and thanked the Nuncio for his commitment and dedication to serving the Church in Kenya.

Archbishop Kivuva hence called on the faithful of Maralal to work closely with their new bishop, support, and pray for him. He also Congratulated the first Bishop of Maralal Rt. Rev. Virgilio Pante who had served the dioceses for more than 20 years for endurance and selflessness.

 Archbishop Kivuva joined the Apostolic Nuncio in praying for a speedy solution to the hunger that is ravaging some parts of the country, calling on Kenyans to spread love and share food with those faced with starvation. “There is hunger, drought, and lack of water whereas there are areas blessed with food in some parts of the country, please support each other,” he said.

According to reports in the media, an estimated 3.1 million people in the Arid and Semi-arid Lands (ASAL) of Kenya are severely food insecure following three consecutive poor rainy seasons that have hampered crop production.

Serve Kenyans equally: Be inclusive in civil appointments, Bishops urge Government

By Rose Achiego Ande

The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has called on the elected political leaders to be inclusive in their service to the people of Kenya and in various leadership appointments as a way of uniting Kenyans.

Speaking on 1^st October 2022, at the Marian Shrine, Subukia in Nakuru, during National Prayer Day, the Chairman of KCCB Most Rev. Martin Kuvuva said, “As we welcome and congratulate those who were elected to various political positions of leadership, we wish to remind them that they have been elected to serve all Kenyans. We, therefore, ask them to be inclusive in their choices of those whom they will appoint in various offices.

Archbishop Kivuva who is the Archbishop of The Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa also urged the leaders to address the real issues that are affecting the lives of Kenyans and to intensify the war against graft, stating that corruption is one of the key problems hindering growth and development in the country.

He, therefore, called on Kenyans to pray for courage, wisdom, and love as the new Government embarks on its service to the people of Kenya. “We have a duty as a church to pray for our civil leaders to remain faithful and listen to prophetic advice,” Archbishop Kivuva said.

Aware of the happening during the electioneering period, he said Kenyans should not forget to pray for unity. “We need the unity that we always pray for in our national anthem. We need cohesion and reconciliation in our country because we might have injured someone in one way or the other. Let us see each other as brothers and sisters,” he said.

National prayer day is held at the Shrine every year to bring Catholics from all the dioceses in Kenya together, to pray for their needs and that of the nation.

Bishops call for environmental conservation

Bishops during 2022 National Prayer Day

By Rose Achiego Ande

On 1^st October 2022, the National Prayer Day celebration took place at the Marian Shrine in Subukia, Nakuru, under the theme: ‘God’s family journeying together in a united and environmentally sustainable Kenya.’

The bishops urged Kenyans to take care of the environment. “Conserve the environment, take care of trees and grow trees, do not cut them to burn charcoal,” the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kisumu Most Rev. Maurice Muhatia said in his Homily.

Bishop Muhatia called on the pilgrims who thronged the Shrine to be responsible and pray for the conservation of the environment. “Through the intercession of Mary, we pray that we may conserve the environment,” he said. 

Tens of thousands of Christian faithful drawn from different Dioceses congregated to give thanks for peaceful general elections in Kenya and pray for various national, family, and individual needs. 

Speaking during the same function, the Chairman of the KCCB – Commission for Pastoral and Lay Apostolate and Bishop of Kitui, Rt. Rev Joseph Mwongela, thanked God for the prevailing peace while applauding Kenyans for maintaining peace before, during, and after the General Elections.

Bishop Mwongela called on Christians to walk together in Christ and to continue the fight against corruption, reminding the congregation that the war on graft begins with self-conscience and examination. “Pray that corruption may come to an end. Remember that the fight begins with you!” he said.

He, however, expressed happiness that this year’s National Prayer Day was well attended due to relaxed Government rules on Covid-19, unlike the past two years when attendance was law. The celebration was attended by more than 20 bishops including his Eminence John Cardinal Njue. The next national prayer day is slated for 7^th October 2023 and will be animated by Nairobi Metropolitan.