KENYA: “Make Kenya Attractive, Stop the Brain Drain” Urges Catholic Bishop
Elizabeth Asasha
The Bishop of Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Kitui has called upon the government of Kenya to create an enabling economic environment that would put a stop to the massive exodus of highly trained Kenyans to other countries in pursuit of better prospects.
Speaking Friday, July 22, during the first graduation ceremony at Our Lady of Lourdes Mutomo College of Health Sciences in Kitui, Bishop Joseph Maluki Mwongela emphasized the value of retaining the “crème de la creme” professionals in the country.
“Parents are draining their resources; we want to train the best for Kenya. I want to ask the government to make Kenya more attractive even for outsiders, rather than letting our graduates emigrate to other countries to look for greener pastures; make the way where we are and make it great,” Urges the Bishop.
“We have doctors from other countries working in our faith-based hospitals, if we train our medics and retain them in our country that will help our country to grow rather than just having the brain drain,” he further said.
The Kenyan Prelate also encouraged new graduates to “to make a path where there is none” encouraging youths across the country to prioritize service to people and the nation even as they seek to advance their knowledge and exposure on international fronts.
“This is a call to service, it is not just about making money but making our country a good place to live, you can go outside to acquire knowledge and bring it back to give service and grow our country,” he asserted in the Friday morning celebration which focused on the theme “Training Well Rounded Health Professionals for Responsive Healthcare.”
He further exhorted young people to make the most of their formative years by dedicating them to God and finding fulfillment in the process.
“It is wonderful to be touched by the love of God when one is young and to allow oneself to be used as an instrument of God in youthfulness, not concerned about the resources of this world but about serving others and finding joy in that service.” the bishop said in his homily.
On this same day when the Catholic Church commemorates the feast of Mary Magdalene, Bishop Mwongela challenged all healthcare workers to emulate Jesus and act as his apostles by bravely casting out demons from patients, just as Christ Jesus did with Magdalene when she was possessed by the seven evil spirits.
Bishop Mwongela continued by advising the graduates to resist the temptation to which most Christian physicians fall prey; encouraging murder and forsaking the poor to further their interests, which has a negative implication to the medical field and Christian faith.
“This is a college for medical studies, and we want to mold our students to be role models in the world, and the most important thing is being the good Samaritan by helping those in need because being a medic is not enough if it is not with values, and what we want to instill in the young people in the spirit of service,” he highlighted.
The Friday graduation at Our Lady of Lourdes Mutomo College of Health Sciences was the first of its kind in the institution owned by Kitui Diocese and affiliated to Our Lady of Lourdes.
