Otunga’s Beatification: Cardinal Njue Appoints Postulator

Dated: September 06, 2009

To all the people of God
Archdiocese of Nairobi

The peace of Christ, the love of God the father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. I write you on this day, the 6^th anniversary of the death of the late Maurice Cardinal Otunga.

I have chosen this day, the anniversary of the death of our beloved Cardinal Maurice Otunga, to make special announcement, which I am certain will be cause of great Joy to all the people of the Archdiocese of Nairobi and indeed of the whole of Kenya.

The date for the formal initiation of the cause of Beatification will be announced shortly, but meanwhile I have appointed Fr. Anthony Bellagamba, IMC, as Postulator for the cause of beatification of the late Cardinal Maurice Otunga. He will have the task of gathering evidence, especially from all those who knew Cardinal Otunga closely. Naturally we would like to gather such evidence first from older people – from all over the country who knew the Cardinal in his earlier days. It would be a great help to the cause if such people were to write to me now, with a brief account of when and how closely they knew Cardinal Otunga. I will then pass these letters on to Fr. Bellagamba, who will begin his work once the cause is officially initiated.

All those who had the privilege of knowing Cardinal Otunga have no doubt as to his holiness. However, the church does not lightly proceed to declare publicly that a person is to be considered among the saints in Heaven, one whose life shows how it is possible to become very, very Christ-like. That is why the Holy See requires a proper process that will gather all the evidence of the person’s sanctity, that is, of how he lived the Christian virtues in a heroic manner. The first stage of the process will take place here in Kenya, the second phase will continue in Rome.

Within a few weeks, it should be possible to announce the date of the formal initiation of the cause of Beatification and Canonization of our beloved late Cardinal. It will be a day of prayer and rejoicing, as and even more so, will be a day of the happy conclusion of the process.

Expression of public devotion to the late Cardinal Otunga is not yet permitted by the church until such a date when in God’s providence, he be beatified. However, he always loved his flock and his people and was loved by them. Continue therefore, to have private recourse to his intercession, and get many graces and benefits on each one of us, on his church here in Kenya and on our whole country which he loved so much.

Let us all remain united in prayer during this very important process. With prayerful best wishes, I bless you all.

Your Shepherd

(signed)

+John Cardinal Njue

Archbishop of Nairobi

JCN/ans

Cc – H.E. Alain Paul Lebeaupin

Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya

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“Let Us Save Our Nation!”

The Catholic Church in Kenya has singled out internal and external insecurity, environmental degradation, food insecurity, plight of the internally displaced persons, impunity and corruption as some of the most pressing issues that need redress to save the nation from further agony.

In a press statement delivered at Maria Polis Centre in Nairobi on September 8, 2009, His Grace Archbishop Zaccheus Okoth, the Bishop Chairman for the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) termed it as “worrying” the increased border conflicts between Kenya and her neighbours notably Somalia, Uganda, Sudan and Ethiopia, while internally, Kenyans “have become hostages” of insecurity.

“Organized violence has destroyed African identity. This is occurring through incitement, exploitation by the political elite and the inability by a majority in making a living from day to day, with about half the population living below the poverty line,” said the archbishop, adding that the government has responsibility to ensure all people living in the country are safe and secure.

On food security, while urging Kenyans to practise good farming methods, the bishop called on the government to empower farmers through subsidies. Likewise, he advised the government to pump water from water bodies to arid and semi arid areas for irrigation, while providing framework to ensure prices of basic food commodities are within reach of all Kenyans.

He urged the government to come up with a humane policy to resettle Kenyans living in the Mau forest and other water catchments and embark on re-forestation, while saying that the two years given for the Mau task force to oversee that persons living in Mau catchment moved out of the forest as time “too long”.

A complex of an estimated area of 273,300 Ha, Mau Forest in the Rift valley province is the largest water catchment area in Kenya. 25 percent of the forest has been illegally excised for human settlement (with many beneficiaries being high ranking officials and members of parliament in the current and past government).

The complex has been at the centre of controversy as section of political leaders from Rift valley are opposing efforts to remove the settlers till ‘all persons are compensated’, while the government has categorically indicated that only those with genuine title deeds for land less that 5 Ha will be compensated.

While urging the government to act on the plight of IDPs, the Archbishop Okoth said for meaningful reconciliation and healing, there must be restorative justice for the victims.

“There is no ‘either or’ debate. Kenya must have a special tribunal to deal with those who bear greatest responsibility for atrocities committed during the 2007/2008 Post-election violence (PEV), and the masterminds and financiers should go to the international Criminal Court,” said the Archbishop.

During the said violence, over 1000 Kenyans were killed while over 300,000 more were internally and externally displaced from their homes/ lands. Most of the IDPs are still in temporary camps, a year and half later.

The archbishop said transitional justice is only possible where accountability, truth recovery, institutional reforms and reparations are availed.

While commending the Kenyan cabinet for ratifying the national land policy, Archbishop Okoth urged the government to also implement fully recommendations from various Commissions (of inquiry) and task force committees, singling out Waki Report (on Commission of inquiry on Post election violence (CIPEV)), Kriegler report on 2007 elections, and Ndung’u report on Land issues.

Others include Ramsley report on Police reforms, and Akiwumi report on ethnic land clashes.

The Archbishop spoke against ‘continued wrong decisions made by (Kenyan) leadership without further reflections on the consequences on the citizenry of Kenya including extra-judicial killings, ad hoc creation of districts, looting of public coppers, land grabbing and rampant corruption’.

Archbishop Okoth said the CJPC is carrying out constitutional education for the public, while calling upon Kenyans to engage meaningfully in the process towards a just and democratic constitution.

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University Don: Genuine Reforms Key to Lasting Peace

It is only through long-term reforms that Kenya will address the deep-rooted causes of conflicts, a university don has said.

Dr. Robert Mudida, a lecture at the Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies, University of Nairobi singled out comprehensive constitutional review as the main way to address most of the underlying concerns in the country.

Addressing a workshop of the superiors of 64 religious Orders based in Kenya but working all over Eastern Africa in Nairobi on Wednesday, August 26, 2009, Dr. Mudida expressed fear that unless institutions of governance are strengthened, Kenya faces a threat of sliding back into much worse crisis than that bedeviled the country early in 2008.

“ We know what problems are, and what are the solutions, but the issue is in the implementation, and that is why we should continue with the pressure over the political class,” he said.

The two-day workshop held from August 25, 2009, was aimed at establishing Shalom Centre for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation (SCCRR), a Religious Superiors Conference of Kenya (RSCK) initiative geared towards assisting in conflict resolution and reconciliation processes in Kenya, according to the RSCK Chairman Fr. Patrick Devine, SMA, who is also one of the three directors of SCCRR.

A concept paper on the initiative has it that the center will concentrate its activities at the grass root to effectively consolidate peace and promote healing among different warring communities.

Conflict still needs to be followed up by the processes of reconciliation among parties so that peace can endure, the paper states.

Dr. Mudida, also another SCCRR director illustrated the role of the church in the initiative: “The church is very influential at the grass root and therefore holds a vital role in the reconciliation process in this country. For true reconciliation, there must be truth, mercy, justice and peace, and the role of church in this need not to be emphasized.”

SCCRR has been a resultant of the a need to find resolutions to recurrent conflicts among the pastoral communities, especially in Northern Kenya, as well as the traumatic experiences after the 2008 post election violence in the country.

Bishop Patrick Harrington of Lodwar diocese (inhabited by Turkanas), which experiences major conflicts among the pastoral communities as a result of cattle rustling and competition for resources including livestock food and water reservoirs, expressed support for SCCRR initiative, saying there is need to seek to understand root causes of the conflicts and possess the necessary skills to resolve then in order to yield true peace.

“This is especially true when people are being killed on daily basis, maimed and displaced while schools and hospitals are made inoperable,” he said.

And at a remote and conflict prone Turkwel parish in Lodwar Diocese, Fr. Oliver Noonan said that Gospel and its values regarding peace; justice, development and integrity of creation cannot take root in such conflicting environment.

“We would be very open to spend quality time in looking at such conflicts in Turkana. I wish to support all the efforts that can be made in such valuable and vital work by the “Shalom Centre” (SCCRR). We offer our utmost encouragement and collaboration,” he said.

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Participate In Census, Church Tells Citizenry

The Catholic Church has thrown its weight behind the coming count on the Kenyan population to be held on the night of August 24, this year.

However, His Eminence John Cardinal Njue, the chairman of the Kenya Episcopal Conference cautions that the government must address the fears that have tagged the coming exercise.

In a signed statement, the church encourages all Kenyans to participate in the process.

"As Kenyan citizens we have rights and responsibilities to ensure we contribute to the common good of our country. This process is a necessary/prerequisite to an objective process of assignment of resources.

“The census is not an end in itself but a means of ensuring social and economic justice. It is important for good planning and delivery of services by the Government and other stake holders,” Cardinal Njue said in the statement.

Some people have expressed concerns over design of the questionnaires to be used to gather information during the count. Of concern are questions touching on ethnic background of the respondents, with some interest groups demanding exclusion of such questions. Other groups have threatened not to participate in the exercise citing lack of government’s response to their plights. In this category are Internally displaced persons as a result of the post-election violence in 2008.

“The Government should seriously address these fears as they are legitimate in our day and time,” said the cardinal.

Security issue has also cropped up dominantly especially during the exercise.

Cardinal Njue proposed that Census officials have clear identification and the Government should give practical assurance of security. It is not enough to promise police patrols as this has failed Kenyans in the past. “There must be practical and real signs of security, especially in these times of power rationing and black outs,” he said.

Currently, Kenya is undergoing power rationing as a result of drying rivers, which the country depends on its hydropower generation.

The government has said that the Enumerators will be in red T-shirts, with specific identification, and in company of officials from the provincial administration, including the village elders whom local people can easily identify, with police being on the ground to provide security, in the case of metropolitan centers such as Nairobi.

At the same time, the Cardinal appealed to Kenyans to see the collection of information such as on ethnicity or religion as a celebration of our beauty in diversity. “This should help to make us realize that the details are fundamental to data and equitable attention in planning,” he said.

As a way to build confidence with the questionnaire design, the government has made it optional for one to give out details of his/ her ethnic background during the census.

The government has moved in to dissuade misinformation arising from the exercise through massive media campaign, including use of paid adverts

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Archbishop Mayala Rests in Peace

Archbishop Anthony Mayala of the Archdiocese of Mwanza, Tanzania is dead.

According to the Very Rev. Fr. Pius Rutechura, the Secretary General for the Association of member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA), Archbishop Mayala passed away on August 19, 2009 as he was undergoing treatment at Bugando Hospital, Mwanza where he had been rushed in the morning after experiencing some health complications.

“Actually, these news are coming too fast, for as early as yesterday, the archbishop spent the day in his office and was healthy,” said Fr. Rutechura.

The Secretary General could not immediately confirm the cause of the death, though he said the late bishop was suffering from hypertension.

The late former board member of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa was born in 1940, ordained Bishop of Musoma diocese, Tanzania in 1979, and later ordained the Archbishop of Mwanza in 1987, an archdiocese he was shepherding till his demise.

Fr. Rutechura, who, as the Secretary General of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference, worked with the deceased for six years described the late archbishop as ‘fatherly, caring, and strong believer of unity and togetherness’.

The burial plans are yet to be made.

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World's Oldest Student Passes Away

Kimani Ng’ang’a Maruge, the oldest student in the world, is dead.

Kimani, 89, who was baptized on 24 May, 2009 during the celebration of the World Communications day at Kariobangi Holy Trinity parish in Nairobi, taking “Stephen” as his patron saint, passed away at noon on friday August 14, 2009, according to his Parish Priest, Fr. Paulino Mondo.

Stephen Kimani’s determination to get education despite his advanced age won him accolades world over when he enrolled for primary education in 2004, aged at 84 when Kenyan government introduced the free primary education in the country, a feat that made him claim his place in history and the Guiness book of records, as the oldest student.

He had declared that one of his reasons for going back to class was to learn how to read bible.

His education was briefly disrupted by the post election violence that rocked Kenya in December 2007/ January 2008, rendering him an internally displaced person, with the church coming to his rescue when he was relocated from violence hit Eldoret town in Rift Valley to Nairobi, where he enrolled at Marura primary school in Kariobangi, while being sheltered at the nearby church owned Cheshire home for the vulnerable persons.

According to Fr. Paulino, Mzee Stephen Maruge was suffering from stomach cancer.

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Church Hails President’s Directive on Death-row Sentences

Kenyan Government took one step closer to what many see as doing away with death penalty after President Mwai Kibaki ordered all the current sentences for 4000 death-row inmates in Kenya prisons be commuted to life imprisonment.

However the president was categorical that this did not abolish the death penalty as a punishment for capital offense.

A statement released by the Presidential Press Service (PPS) on Monday 3rd August, 2009 stated that: “In exercise of powers conferred upon him by the Constitution sections 27 (C) and 29 (2) President Kibaki, upon the advice of the Constitutional Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy, said that the decision was necessitated upon consideration of many prevailing facts”

President Kibaki said that by commuting these sentences to life imprisonment, the affected inmates will be able to work. As per law, those sentence to be executed are not supposed to work, and are usually secluded, under 24 hour watch from prison authorities.

According to the President, this led to idleness, which in turn affected discipline in prisons. It also impacted on the prisoners' mental health.

Since 1987, no inmate under death penalty has been executed.

This announcement by the government has been lauded by the Catholic Church in Kenya and other human rights activists as a ‘step in the right direction towards abolishing death penalty from our statutes’.

Even more heartening is a direction from the President that the government is to assess whether the punishment was having any impact on the fight against crime.

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Cardinal Njue Now Okays Charismatic Group Activities

The movement to undertake its activities under supervision from Parish Priests

His Eminence John Cardinal Njue, the Archbishop of Archdiocese of Nairobi has given a nod for the charismatic movement in the archdiocese to continue with its activities, but under the supervision from the parish priests.

Lifting a suspension imposed on the movement in February, on Friday July 31st, 2009, Cardinal Njue termed some of its activities as more protestant than catholic.

During the Pentecost Sunday Mass this year, as he clarified the purpose of ‘putting on hold’ the charismatic movement’s activities in the archdiocese of Nairobi in February, the Cardinal had said that ecclesial movements (such as Charismatic movement) even if approved by the Holy Father must operate under the close eye of the ordinary under whose jurisdiction they are operating.

“There are some areas that I must say, need keeping, and I needed to look into that,” he had said, adding that Catholic Church has structures of doing things, which must be respected.“As the shepherd here, if there are some activities that are contrary to the doctrine of the church, I have the right to stop that. There are some things that I can not just say ‘it does not matter’. That is why I told them to hold on,” he said, stressing that these movements are meant to be instruments to deepen faith of the faithful and not to destroy it.

Following the lifting of the suspension, the leaders of the movement present during the Friday July 31st meeting promised to work under the guidelines specified by the cardinal.

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Bishop Schilder Retires as Ordinary of Ngong Diocese

Cardinal Njue appointed the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Rt. Rev. Cornelius Schilder (Pictured) as the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ngong.

According to a statement released by Fr. Martin Wanyoike, the Communications Secretary at the Kenya Episcopal Conference- Catholic Secretariat, the Apostolic Nunciature in Nairobi communicated on August 1st, 2009 (1300 hours, Kenyan time) that the holy Father also appointed His Eminence John Cardinal Njue, the archbishop of Nairobi, as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese as from August 1st.

Bishop Schilder, 68, who has recently suffered from poor health, the grounds that necessitated his request to the Holy Father to release him from his duties, has been the shepherd for Ngong diocese since November 6, 2002.

He was ordained priest in 1968.

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Embu Diocese’s Third Bishop Ordained

I am good shepherd for you and for all, he declares

On a raised, meticulously decorated altar, in front of Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, Embu diocese, His Excellency Archbishop Alain Paul Lebeaupin and several bishops joined thousands of faithful, including the clergy, religious, political and civic leaders, as well as faithful from other mainstream churches to witness as the Diocese got its third shepherd.

This was during a beautifully animated ordination Mass on July 25, 2009.

His Lordship Bishop Paul Njiru Kariuki became the third Bishop of Embu, with a double joy of being ordained and installed to the seat by the first Bishop of the very same diocese, His eminence John Cardinal Njue.

And the new shepherd declared that his primary goal is to ‘lead all souls to Christ, at whatever price’.
The Papal ‘Bull’, an official decree from Vatican that appointed and granted permission for the new Bishop to be ordained was read in Latin, English and finally in Ki-Embu, the local dialect to thunderous applause of the congregation.

“By the virtue of our supreme apostolic power, we appoint you the Bishop of the diocese of Embu. We further decree that you be ordained by a catholic Bishop outside the diocese of Rome according to the canonically authorised liturgy of the church,” read the ‘Bull’ that was released on May 9th, 2009, before concluding: “ May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Holy queen of Africa help you from Heaven, together with the faithful of this Diocese.”

Cardinal Njue, who presided over the ordination/ installation helped by the former Bishop and apostolic Administrator of the Diocese, Bishop Anthony Muheria of Kitui, and Archbishop Peter Kairo of Archdiocese of Nyeri, implored the faithful, clergy and religious of the diocese to support the new Bishop.

“He is going to be the custodian of the precious gift, the gift of faith that we received from our predecessors, the apostles. Let all church groups and genuine associations, and I repeat, genuine associations grow together with the new Bishop to be living stones of faith.

And to the new Bishop, Cardinal advised: “People of Embu will be looking at you as a point of reference. Give them the right direction to fulfil their call to holiness.”

His Excellency Alain Paul Lebeaupin, the apostolic Nuncio to Kenya described the ordination as ‘a huge responsibility bestowed and a great feast of the entire catholic church which is Universal’.

“On behalf of the Holy father, I want to thank you all, especially the priests for keeping the unity as you waited for the new Bishop,” he said, adding that this showed great communion in the church.

“You now have two bright sons from this diocese, the Cardinal and the new Bishop, and this means more responsibility,” said the Nuncio.

“This means to be open to all and help, to live the truth of the Gospel and express the love of our Lord to our brothers and sisters,” he said, adding: “God bless you, don’t be afraid, go out and help!”

The Nuncio reiterated the importance of church unity. “You are not a catholic If you are not in communion with the successor of Peter,” he said.

In front of the multitude, the new Bishop revealed his Episcopate motto as “I am the good shepherd for you and for all”.

He conceded that his appointment came as a surprise, as he had ‘never dreamt of such office of this calibre in our Catholic church’.

“I was happy in my humble duty to form the young people whom the Lord had called, but our Lord has decided to add another cross on my humble vocation. Therefore, in my humility, I come to you with no other greatness other than the ministry of the Gospel,” said Bishop Paul Kariuki.

“I appeal to you, pray for me, love me, listen to me and work with me, for united we stand, divided we fall. I will not fail to raise my voice for the voiceless,” he said

On ecumenism, he promised to work closely with ‘my brothers and sisters from other faiths’.

Before cutting the ordination cake, he executed his very first duty upon assuming the office: “I appoint Very Rev. Father Patrick Njiru as the Vicar-General of the diocese, with immediate effect.”

Prior to this appointment, the 46 year bishop was an acting Rector, and formator at the Christ the King Seminary, Nyeri. He holds a baccalaureate, licentiate and doctorate in Sacred Theology.

He becomes the third bishop for Embu Diocese since it was curved from Meru diocese in 1986. The first bishop is the current archbishop of Nairobi, His Eminence John cardinal Njue, with the second Bishop being Anthony Muheria, currently of Kitui Diocese.

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MOU on Health: Government and Religious Organizations Partner

The Kenyan government will now subsidize efforts by Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) in providing health care to Kenyans.

This comes after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on July 9, 2009 between the government and FBOs representatives, including Kenya Episcopal Conference (KEC); Supreme council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), and Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK), at the government’s Ministry of Health offices, Nairobi.

“With signing of this MoU, we now have a partnership framework that will enable government subsidize efforts of our partners,” said Prof. James Ole Kiyiapi, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Medical Services.

The PS praised FBOs for operating health care facilities in remotest areas where public health services are inaccessible or inexistent.

Our job now is to make it easier for our partners, he said.

His Eminence, John Cardinal Njue, who is the chairman of KEC termed the MoU as ‘unique, an initiative to carry on the healing ministry’.

“It is our hope that this will be continued to enable proper services to our people as government and FBOs,” he said.

And Prof Abdulghafur El-Busaidy of SUPKEM said the partnership is a sign the ‘we are focused to make it easier for our people to access health services’.

The MoU was a culmination of efforts between government and the religious organizations to partner in health care that were initiated back in 2004.

While acknowledging that the government has limited resources, Prof Ole Kiyiapi said that the government is adopting an open door policy approach.

“We can complement each other, rather than compete. Instead of waiting until that time when the government will have enough money to provide health care for all, let us look at how effective can we utilize the available resources,” he said.

Such resources will include human resource, drugs and equipment. Prior to this MoU Government has been subsidizing health care in F BO owned health facilities as per specific requests, which have since dwindled due to poor economic growth.

Currently, there are 600 FBO dispensaries in the country that whose drugs supply is subsidized by the government through its Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA). Of these, 250 are Catholic owned dispensaries.

Also, as per MoU, government will, for instance, no longer be posting nurses and doctors to FBO facilities direct, but through the respective FBOs’ Secretariats.

At the same time, Prof Ole Kiyiapi revealed that government will be employing 4,200 nurses of temporary contract basis in the current government’s financial year (2009/2010).

This is meant to assuage a deficit of 18,000 nurses needed in the country. There are 17,000 nurses in the government’s payroll currently. This is part of human resource that is expected to be shared between the partners in the MoU.

According to Dr. Robert Ayisi, the National Executive Secretary in the KEC’s Catholic Commission for Health of Kenya, the Catholic Church provides 30% of all health care services in the Kenya.

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Murang'a Diocese, Here's Your Bishop!

Bishop James Maria Wainaina Kung’u was finally ordained and installed as the third Bishop of Murang’a on June 27th, 2009, during a celebration that was witnessed by His Excellency Archbishop Alain Paul Lebeaupin, the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Bishops, clergy and religious, among thousands of faithful.

The celebration that was led by His eminence John cardinal Njue, co-assisted by Archbishop Peter Kairo (Archdiocese of Nyeri) and Bishop Luigi Paiaro (Diocese of Nyahururu) was held at Murang’a Cathedral compound.

“People of Murang’a, rejoice, for this is the day the Lord has made,” said Cardinal Njue, as Murang’a received its shepherd.

The new Bishop was optimistic that the church will remain united. “It is for this reason that I have chosen my motto to be ‘united in Love’,” said Bishop Wainaina, as he unveiled his Episcopal logo.

At the same time, he adopted the name ‘Maria’. “Mother Mary has a very special place in my life, and to day I wish to add the name ‘Maria’ in my names, so I will be ‘Bishop James Maria Wainaina Kung’u’,” he said.

On the church unity, the Apostolic Nuncio was candid: “You are not appointed Bishop because you are supposed to be appointed, this is a special gift of the Holy Spirit to serve people of God. Many people wanted me to speak last week and I did not, but now I am speaking. Church is one and united.” He was referring to some priests who have defected from the church communion after going back against the church’s doctrine of celibacy, hence incurring excommunication.

He urged the priests to remain steadfast in their vocation.

Raila Odinga, Kenya’s Prime minister reiterated that the government will continue to partner with the Catholic Church to improve the welfare of the people. “You have done very good work in improving the living conditions of people. Church has always been the guide for moral values in our society,” he said.

And President Kibaki challenged the church to keep on positively critiquing the government to ensure that it remains focused to deliver services to people.

The Nuncio termed it as a move in the positive direction that the Prime Minister and the president are united in the coalition government. “This is the way to go,” he said.

President Kibaki urged Kenyans to engage in worthy socio-economic activities that will bring about self-sufficiency in the society, reducing behaviours that may bring about security threats. He was referring to Mungiki sect that has been terrorizing citizens in central Kenya, which is thought to have its origins in the area.

Bishop James Maria Wainaina Kung’u becomes the third bishop of Murang’a after Archbishop Peter Kairo and Bishop Peter Kihara. His eminence John Cardinal Njue was the Apostolic Administrator of the diocese for two years before Bishop Wainaina was ordained and installed.


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Bishops Caution Faithful Against ‘Rebel Priests’

The catholic Bishops in Kenya have cautioned the faithful against associating with former priests and bishops who have broken away from the communion of the church.

Through a pastoral letter to the faithful on the gift of priesthood and celibacy, that was signed and read to the press by His eminence John Cardinal Njue on behalf of the 25 Bishops of the Kenya Episcopal conference on June 16, 2009 in Nakuru, the Bishops asserted that by their desertion, the said priests are no longer Catholics.

“We are saddened by those unfortunate priests, whom, retaining that special character conferred to them by their priestly ordination, have been unfaithful to the obligations of celibacy they accepted when ordained,” the bishops said.

The bishops singled out the priests who have ‘succumbed to a counter sign of celibate life, have abandoned the pastoral ministry and are now with families’ as well as ‘those who have abandoned the church and defected to some other churches, or want to start their own churches’.

“None of us has the right to want to alter or change what was lived by the Lord Himself and what has been handed down to us by the Popes and the Church Fathers down the centuries,” they said.

The bishops explained that each priest swears before almighty God to obey Bishop, abide by the law of celibacy as well as be faithful to the teachings of Jesus Christ and his church.

“These oaths are solemn and binding forever. They cannot be lightly dismissed under any circumstance. To dismiss them as mere formality is a failure in responsibility and a source of scandal to the catholic faithful that jeopardizes the salvation of their souls,” the ordinaries said.

Of late, former priests who defied their vows of celibacy, hence incurring excommunication have been moving around claiming to reform the discipline of the church.

“The so Called ‘rebel priest’ defies the authority of the church…then a declaration of excommunication is made since excommunication is self-inflicted. It is the person himself who breaks the bond of communion through his actions that are incompatible with the teachings of the church,” said Bishops through the statement.

Accordingly, with proper dispositions and use of the sacrament of reconciliation, the priest in question can only return to the church in a manner prescribed by his bishop, keeping in mind the canonical guidelines.

The Bishops urged the faithful to pray for their priests and the priests of the whole world, while ‘fostering deep respect and a delicate reserve in their dealings with priests, on account of their condition as men entirely consecrated to the Christ and to the church’.

“We turn to the most loving Mother of Jesus Christ and Mother of the Church, the Virgin Margin invoking her to protect the Catholic Priesthood with her powerful intercession…At this time when negative forces are being unleashed against the gift of celibacy may the Church in Kenya and the whole world experience once more her powerful protection,” they prayed.



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2009/ 2010 National Budget Devolutionary, says Church

Kenya Episcopal Conference-catholic secretariat is hopeful that the members of parliament will operationalize the 2009/2010 budget through strong policies, legislations and positive political will.

In a signed statement, the KEC-CS secretary General Rev. Fr. Vincent Wambugu termed the 2009/2010 budget that was read by the country’s Minister for Finance and deputy Prime minister, Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta on June 11th, 2009 as ‘more equitable budget, considering all Kenyans’.

The minister announced various tax cuts during this financial year’s budget.

“We urge the sectors that will benefit from tax reductions to quickly pass the benefits also to consumers. The poor in Kenya are the majority and our policies and practices must be pro-poor…The budget on the ground must reflect the spirit of equity, pro-poor and economic devolution,” he said.

The secretary general expressed concerned that despite the presence of Constituency development fund some areas in Kenya are yet to experience any development, urging Members of Parliament (MPs) to be ‘honest, committed to this goal (to see development all over Kenya), and manage funds well’.

He described the 2009/2010 budget as revolutionary, empowering all Kenyans, adding that: “It is strongly based on equity for all Kenyans; this equity, if realised, could be translated into political equity for all Kenyans, Making us a stronger and cohesive nation.”

He however cautioned that this will not be achieved without strong foundation of honesty, justice and commitment.

“We therefore urge the MPs and the government to quickly move this national budget from paper to reality,” he said.

Contrary to what many expected, government moved on to reduce taxes on several commodities, which many a person have hailed as a huge relief to common person during this time of economic recession.

At the same time, the government has strong used the devolutionary Constituency Development fund structure for its 2009/2010 budgetary planning, which many have applauded as well thought of.

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Church Warns of Ridicule over Expulsion Ban in Schools

The church is warning that a directive by the government to strip Board of Governors (BOGs) powers to recommend expulsion of errand students from schools is likely to undermine the welfare of students and teachers, exposing boards to ridicule and powerlessness.

In a statement to press, the Bishop Chairman of the Kenya Episcopal Conference- Catholic Secretariat (KEC-CS) Commission for Education and Religious Education, Rt. Rev. Maurice Crowley pointed out that ‘to insist that Boards of Governors have no powers to recommend the exclusion of students from schools makes a mockery of the Role of the Board as the Management fora for Schools and reduces their meetings to being directionless which will not help either the standard or manner of education’.

“The impression has now been left with students that no matter what they do the matter can be solved by counselling. It is true that sometimes counselling works for a few students but to say that counselling is the remedy for all types of behaviour undermines the welfare of students and teachers and exposes the Board to ridicule and powerlessness,” said the Bishop.

Government through the ministry of education has barred schools’ Principals and B.O.Gs from recommending expulsion of un-conforming students, directing the schools governors to adopt counselling as the only way to instil discipline. At the same time, the government is ‘empowering’ Prefects to monitor the teachers. Caning was banned in schools as a means for discipline following an outcry of misuse of the same by some teachers.

Bishop cautioned that this will not bring harmony in schools.

“It would be better if students and teachers worked in harmony to improve the school in a less formal and forbidding way. Teachers should be respected as responsible professionals. The sins of a few should not be visited on the majority, he said.

“To undermine the authority of the Principal and the Board will only lead to chaos as parents will see no point in attending when called to discuss the various forms of rule breaking of their sons and daughters. In fact the Boards role will be reduced to inquiring into the price of commodities needed in the School,” said the Bishop.

The Bishop further said that matters with regard to education should be handled with care and radical changes made only after much scrutiny and debate.

According to Bishop Crowley, the directive by the government would be injurious and disappointing to both discipline and management of the schools as it seems to ‘abolish the Act of parliament of 1968 in a manner which is piecemeal and alarming’.

According to the education Act 1968 (chapter 211 of Kenya Law); School boards have wide range of functions, including “to superintend the management of public schools’.

This government directive to bar students’ expulsion comes barely months after widespread schools’ unrest that rocked the country mid 2008 affecting over 168 institutions, which also resulted to death of a student. At that time, Kenya’s Minister for Education, Science and Technology Prof. Samson Kegeo Ongeri is on record calling for expulsion of the students involved.

Why Apostates incurred excommunication

The clerical members of the so-called Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ, who defied the church doctrine of celibacy committed apostacy, hence are no longer members of the Catholic church, Cardinal Njue has said.

According to Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary apostacy refers to renouncing or abandoning the faith.

“The Canon is very clear, they have incurred automatic excommunication. We hope Christians understand this. These are personal decisions,” he said.

He said that celibacy is a reality where one commits himself a day before he becomes a Deacon.

“It is not forced on anyone. It is self sacrifice to express your love to God. If you find that you do not have the gift of the kind, there is no need for confrontation, as there is a procedure of dispensation,” he explained.

He urged the Christians to be on lookout for individuals who aim to lead them astray.

Be Patient, Cardinal Njue Tells Faithful over Charismatic Movement

Nairobi; May 31st, 2009

His Eminence John Cardinal Njue has urged for patience as he investigates the charismatic movement, whose activities he ‘put on hold’ in February.

Cardinal further explained to the faithful in the Archdiocese of Nairobi during the Pentecost Sunday Mass that he is in contact with the leaders of the movement, whom he has shared with them in the recent past.

“There are some areas that I must say, need keeping, and I needed to look into that,” he said, adding that catholic has structures of doing things which must be respected.

While addressing the members of press after the Mass, the Cardinal said ecclesial movements (such as Charismatic movement) even if approved by the Holy father must operate under the close eye of the ordinary under whose jurisdiction they are operating.

“As the shepherd here, if there are some activities that are contrary to the doctrine of the church, I have the right to stop that. There are some things that I can not just say ‘it does not matter’. That is why I told them to hold on,” he said.

He stressed that these movements are meant to be instruments to deepen faith of the faithful and not to destroy it.

Some sections of the media had carried articles alleging that the Cardinal had “banned” Charismatic movement in Nairobi, which the Cardinal clarified that he had only requested the said movement to “hold on” as he investigated its activities.

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