KENYA: ACWECA Postpone Plenary Assembly over Covid-19 Pandemic
Sr Hellen Bandhiho, ACWECA Secretary General.
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The 18th Plenary Assembly of Religious women in Africa that had been scheduled to take place in August in Nairobi, Kenya, has been postponed to next year as the nuns await a “face to face encounter” to hold the assembly following restrictions put in place by various governments to curb the spread of Coronavirus.
The Religious nuns under their regional body Association of Consecrated Women in Eastern and Central Africa (ACWECA), comprise of National Associations of Sisterhoods which is Conference of Women Religious Superiors General from English speaking countries of Eastern and Central Africa.
In an interview with AMECEA Online, ACWECA Secretary General Sr. Hellen Bandiho noted that the plans for the assembly were underway with committees in their advanced stage of preparations but all these have been “put on hold until a later date.”
“The Plenary Assembly was on top of the agenda for almost a year. We had already invited all stakeholders who were ready to attend the assembly. We had already booked the accommodation and a venue for the assembly,” Sr. Bandiho a member of the Congregation of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus disclosed adding that “because of the pandemic at hand, the Board had no choice but to postpone.”
Narrating further on other arrangements that were on going Sr. Bandiho said, “the ACWECA Management together with the host team from Association of Sisterhoods of Kenya had already met and committees were in advanced stages with preparations. A keynote speaker and other presenters had already been identified and they had already accepted to take part in the Plenary Assembly. Invitations had already been sent to member countries, collaborators and partners.”
Asked if ACWECA Plenary could be held using the virtual platforms, Sr. Bandiho said, “The Assembly is an opportunity to share ideas but also to meet physically. Over 250 delegates cannot be adequately accommodated via Webinar.” Besides, “there are some countries like Eritrea, Sudan and South Sudan where connectivity is a challenge (and) we need all member countries to participate.”
“A one-on-one meeting will benefit all members without leaving some behind and it is during the Assembly when we elect new leadership. The presence of all delegates to choose their leaders during a face to face encounter makes more sense than a virtual election,” she added.
The assembly is to be convened in Kenya under the theme Re-Awakening the Prophetic Role: A call for Reformation Towards Holistic Transformation in ACWECA Region today. It will still be held at the same venue with the same theme but next year.
In a letter announcing the postponement, the President of ACWECA Sr. Cecilia Njeri, a member of the Little Sisters of St. Francis (LSOSF) congregation further said, “The current Chairperson and the Board Members will remain in place until we are able to conduct the Assembly in August 2021, God willing.”
ACWECA comprise of Religious nuns from 10 countries, namely Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe as an Associate Member.
The Secretary General asked the association members “to continue praying for the Assembly.”
