KENYA: Bishop Obanyi Calls On Communicators To Promote Reading culture
Communication coordinators from various Dioceses have been challenged to embrace and promote the reading culture in the country by forming small groups for book reviews and reading in parishes and Small Christian Communities (SCCs).
Addressing Diocesan Coordinators, radio managers and print editors at JJ McCathy Spiritual Centre in Nairobi on 3rd, April, 2019, The Chairman of the Commission for Social Communication at Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) Rt. Rev Joseph Obanyi noted that Kenyans have a poor reading culture hence the need for communication offices in the Dioceses through the coordination of the national office to inculcate the love for literature in the people.
The Chairman of the Commission
for Social Communication at
Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB)
Rt. Rev Joseph Obanyi
“Kenyans have a poor reading culture. Help them to embrace reading of books. Many of them just read stories from the social media which does not have rich content. Form groups and motivate people to read and have a basis of discussion on well thought issues,” Bishop Obanyi said.
Bishop Obanyi thanked the National Office lead by Br. Elias Mokua SJ, for piloting training of parish communication agents in seven dioceses as a way of building a strong Catholic Communication News Network, encouraging similar exercise in more dioceses.
“I thank the Commission for Social Communication for empowering parishes and Small Christian Communities by training Parish Communication Agents who are now helping our Catholic radios and print in content generation and giving people information that enrich them spiritually,” he said
He called on participants to boost the growth of the Church by being relevant in using the tools of social media in evangelization and to highlight sensitive issues affecting the Church objectively without shying away from telling the truth.
Bishop Obanyi who is the shepherd of Kakamega Diocese and Apostolic Administrator of Bungoma encouraged the participants to highlight social issues in the community like child protection so as to bring about change and healing to the society.
The meeting that brought together over 30 communicators from various diocese and media houses was also graced by KCCB General Secretary Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Rono and Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) – Communication Department Coordinator Rev. Fr. Andrew Kaufa.
By Rose Achiego
