KENYA: Catholic Bishops add their voice to the fight against corruption

Group photo of Bishops of Kenya with the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, Most Rev. Charles Daniel Balvo during the Bishops' Meeting in Nakuru Diocese

By Rose Achiego, Waumini Communications, KCCB

The Catholic Church in Kenya through her Catholic, Justice and Peace Commission and various other arms has joined the Government in the war against corruption.

In a memorandum handed over to His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta on 2nd, November, 2016 at State House, Nairobi, the Bishops said the Church is escalating the war against corruption through a book on how to fight corruption besides implementing various programmes to combat graft.

Group photo of Bishops of Kenya with the Apostolic  Nuncio to Kenya, Most Rev. Charles Daniel Balvo  during the Bishops' Meeting in Nakuru Diocese
Group photo of Bishops of Kenya with the Apostolic
Nuncio to Kenya, Most Rev. Charles Daniel Balvo
during the Bishops’ Meeting in Nakuru Diocese

The handbook whose content is based on promotion of virtues and ethics informed by the social teachings of the Catholic Church, points out that corruption rotates around a society that has lost values and virtues hence the need to restore dignity in both public and private sectors.

The move to publish the book was prompted by the many cases and allegations of corruption where Billions of public funds meant for development projects have been misappropriated and by President Kenyatta’s call to Kenyans that fighting Corruption is a collective responsibility.

The Bishops proposed to President Kenyatta to intervene in the recent spate of matters concerning corruption by ensuring that, investigation of public officers adversely mentioned or suspected to be misappropriating public funds for their own personal gain.

“Any officer adversely mentioned and implicated in graft ought to step aside even as investigations proceed. There should be conclusion to investigations and actual convictions for those found guilty. You must hold responsible relevant officers that have been appointed to fight corruption which is not only a crime but a moral wrong.” The Bishops said.

The Memorandum was presented to the president at State House by His Eminence John Cardinal Njue, The Chairman of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and the Bishop of Homabay Rt. Rev. Philip Anyolo, KCCB Vice Chairman and the Bishop of Ngong Rt. Rev. John ObalaOwaa, Bishop of Kitui Rt. Rev. Anthony Muheria, Rt. Rev. Alfred Rotich and The KCCB General Secretary Vey Rev. Fr. Daniel Rono.

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