KENYA: Faith Leaders not to Assume their Role to Educate on climate Crisis: Kenyan Cleric
Fr. Makagutu. Credit; Citizen
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
As the society decries the effects of climate crisis affecting not only Africa but the entire world, a Kenyan cleric has asked faith leaders to come up strongly and educate the people on their responsibility to care for creation lest the impact of crisis will continue worsening.
Addressing the nation on Monday report show at Citizen TV, August 21, Fr. Stephen Otieno Makagutu underscored that when preaching the Gospel of Christ, faith leaders should not assume their role to enlighten the congregants about care of creation.
He said, “The Bible says, my people are perishing because of ignorance…Faith leaders have a duty to educate their members. Apart from communication there is education. When people talk of climate change they only think of cleaning and planting trees but we don’t think about green energy, divesting from fossil fuel because we have only narrowed it to the little that we can see,” hence education is key.
The member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (OFM Cap.) who is currently serving as the assistant to the permanent representative of Vatican to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), emphasized further on aspect of being stewards of creation saying, “In the gospel of creation, we are called to be stewards, to be care takers and not the owners of environment. God gave us whatever we have for our use and to take care of it. Therefore, all faith leaders need to remind the people of God that from the beginning we are expected to take care of creation and not to misuse creation.”
Sharing his concerns ahead of the 2023 Africa Climate Summit that will be held alongside Africa Climate Week slated for 4th-6th September in Kenya, where African leaders are expected to make pledges and commitments towards the adoption of a “pledging and commitment framework,” Fr. Makagutu insists that Faith organizations can play a much more central role when it comes to fighting against climate change and involving the young people in the fight.
“Faith organizations have a big podium to bring this information to the people,” the Kenyan Catholic cleric disclosed and expounded that “Most young people in Africa find themselves brought up in religious families and therefore this message can be brought to the youths during preaching and in activities done in churches and mosques.”
Besides, Fr. Makagutu narrated that some faith organizations speak about ecological restoration without advising on practical solutions hence he reflects on Pope Francis’ encyclical letter Laudato Si’ which focus on care of creation saying, “When Pope wrote the encyclical letter, it gives some practical solutions which should trickle down from the Vatican to Bishops, priests and to the entire society.”
The priest therefore calls on all people to act in various small ways in restoration of ecology than having big projects that are not nurtured and die in the process. Hence the need to “take action now and now.”
Fr. Makagutu was speaking alongside the lead coordinator for Africa youth climate Assembly (AYCA), Ms. Elizabeth Wathuti and the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Komb green solution Mr. Frederick Okinda, who are looking forward to the 2023 Africa Climate Summit which will focus on the theme; Driving green growth and climate finance solutions for Africa and the world.
