KENYA: Catholic Bishops Appeal for Urgent Action to Save Lives as Floods Wreak Havoc in Kenya
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
As heavy rainfall persists in the East African country of Kenya, with massive and deadly floods wreaking havoc in various parts of the country, members of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) have called for urgent action to be taken to save people’s lives and property.
In a statement shared Tuesday, May 7, the bishops acknowledged that the severe floods have “tragically resulted in loss of lives, widespread displacement, and considerable destruction of property.” This they said, has left many families whose homes have been destroyed “struggle to cope with the disaster’s immediate aftermath.”
Since the rainfall and its effects continue, the Church leaders appealed for urgent action saying, “We call for swift action to save lives and protect property.” They emphasized further, “In areas where the rains have subsided, begin the necessary work of rebuilding and rehabilitation.”
In their collective statement signed by the new chairman for the KCCB, Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba of Kisumu Archdiocese, the prelates asked government leaders from all levels whether County or National leaders, “to mobilize their disaster management resources with greater urgency,” since this is the time to utilize resources allocated for such crises effectively.
The bishops who had earlier appealed for support from Christians and well-wishers across all dioceses in the country, acknowledge the positive response received so far as they plead for more support to aid those in desperate need.
They asked well-wishers to contribute through local parishes, diocesan offices, or designated relief services reminding the people of God to “show love and compassion through generous acts of charity, reflecting the teachings of Christ in our actions.”
Even though the heavy rainfall has been and still is a great challenge in the country, Church leaders stress that unity and togetherness are paramount to overcome such challenges.
“Together, we can overcome the challenges posed by these floods. Through collective effort and divine grace, we shall restore hope and rebuild our communities,” the Tuesday statement read in parts as the bishops added, “Let us pray for all those affected and work tirelessly to alleviate their suffering as our Lord tells us, “Whatsoever you did for one of these little brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25: 40).
Following the impact of the heavy rains and floods in Kenya, Pope Francis in his Wednesday general audience on May 1, called on all people across the globe to pray for the country saying, “I wish to express to the people of Kenya my spiritual closeness at this time as severe flooding has tragically taken the lives of many of our brothers and sisters, injured others, and caused widespread destruction. I invite you to pray for all those affected by this natural disaster.
The Church leaders have appreciated the concern of the Holy Father and expressed in their Tuesday statement, “We are most grateful to the Holy Father Pope Francis for his prayers and show of solidarity with our country.”
They further expressed their solidarity with all the affected victims: the families who have lost their loved ones, those who have lost their property due to floods, and those displaced, saying, “We share the grief, and in this time of sorrow, we stand united in prayer and support.”
“We particularly regret the tragedy of the many who have lost lives in Garissa, through a capsized boat, those who have lost lives while crossing rivers in Makueni and other places, those in Mai Mahiu who were swept away by raging waters, and those displaced from their homes in Kisumu, among other areas. We pray that God continues comforting all these families,” the bishops said asking Kenyans to be more cautious during this time.
“Adults must take the lead in ensuring the safety of our children, particularly in areas prone to flooding. People should not take unnecessary risks,” they expressed their appeal and continued, “We implore communities to be vigilant and proactive in safeguarding every member, especially the most vulnerable.”
