KENYA: KCCB Appoints a Nun to Spearhead Establishment of National Catholic Television
Sister Lando at Ukweli TV studio
By Rose Achiego,
The Director of Research and Postgraduate Studies at Daystar University, Sr. Prof. Agnes Lucy Lando, has been appointed as Co-ordinator and Lead Consultant in assisting the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) to establish a national Catholic TV station.
Ukweli Television Kenya, whose motto is bringing Christ to the people and people to Christ, was recently issued with a commercial free to air broadcasting licence by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).
In an interview with the Chairman of KCCB – Commission for Social Communications, Rt. Rev. Joseph Obanyi, under whose leadership the Catholic TV project has been realized, he disclosed that the bishops are delighted to finally own a national TV station of their own.
“On behalf of the bishops, I am excited that finally we have something to begin with,” said Bishop Obanyi. “We thank the team in Nairobi for their commitment in helping to acquire the broadcasting licence.”
Bishop Obanyi said Ukweli TV will soon start relaying programs and called on Christians across the dioceses to support the new TV and team appointed to run it.
He paid tribute to Sr. Lando for her commitment and acceptance to help the bishops in realizing their dream.
Meanwhile, speaking at Ukweli TV which is based at the National Youth Centre along Thika Road, Sr. Lando thanked the bishops for appointing her to help in establishing the Catholic TV.
She congratulated KCCB and thanked the bishops for showing faith and confidence in her to spearhead the new TV project despite her other engagement at Daystar University which is a non-Catholic institution.
Sr. Lando said the closure of Churches early in the year due to Covid-19 pandemic influenced the establishment of the new TV station.
‘There was forceful withdrawal of the shepherd from the sheep,” said Sr. Lando. “It was the desire of the bishops to remain in touch with the Christians. They therefore requested that the establishment of Ukweli TV be accelerated so that it may be used as a tool for evangelization and to reach out to the Christians with messages of hope and encouragement.”
Daystar Vice Chancellor Prof. Laban Ayiro hailed Sr. Lando as a leader who is self-driven, responsible and with the capacity required to run the TV station due to her qualification as a professor in communication and involvement in Church matters.
Prof. Ayiro said her appointment is a positive move and expressed the desire for Daystar University to continue working together with the Catholic Church in Kenya.
“At Daystar, we have embraced a multi-denominational approach in our work and as part of the University’s research and outreach, it would be good if the bishops could train more members of the clergy and religious in the areas of communication, business and leadership whose need has been necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Prof. Ayiro.
