The Catholic Archbishop of Mombasa Diocese, Martin Kivuva has commended President Uhuru Kenyatta for initiating the building of bridges initiative to bring Kenyans together.
Archbishop Kivuva said the Catholic Church supported the government’s initiative of uniting Kenyans to live in harmony noting that the last general elections had divided Kenyans along political lines.
“If we want a better Kenya, politicians must address issues affecting the political environment, as the church tries through dialogue to bring different faiths together,” he said.
He said time had come for Kenyans to address the issues touching on the political, economic and religious environments, if citizens want a better country for themselves and the future generations.
The clergy noted that many Kenyans were unable to cater for their basic needs due to poverty and called on everybody to be in the forefront in fighting corruption which he attributed to the high poverty levels afflicting Kenyans.
“Corruption will not end if Kenyans do not make a decision to make an about-turn. Faith without action is dead,” he said and added that people must follow the law and be conscious of how they acquired money.
He said if corruption does not stop, it would create a society where men and women would have no value for truth.
The Archbishop was speaking yesterday during a funeral mass for the late Catholic Archbishop Emeritus John Njenga that was celebrated by Cardinal John Njue and attended by among others President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto, several dignitaries, Catholic Archbishops and Bishops.
The late Archbishop Njenga aged 90 who passed on 4th November this year while undergoing treatment at Mater Hospital was laid to rest on Tuesday at the Holy Family Minor Basilica Church in Nairobi where he was ordained as the first African priest in the country on February 17, 1957.
Concerning the family life, Archbishop Kivuva noted that families were crumbling due to lack of family values, an issue he attributed to the huge gap existing between parents, teachers and the children.
“It is sad that examinations have become a huge undertaking for the country as if we are at war,” decried the prelate, saying that the bad virus of cheating and fake exam is putting false principles on the children.
Speakers at the mass eulogized the late Archbishop Njenga as a selfless and dedicated leader who inspired many to aspire for religious life and an educationist who wanted students to attain the highest standards of education and morality.
The late Njenga served in various capacities in the church, first as a teacher at Queen of Apostles Seminary Kiserian, Parish Priest at Our Lady of Visitation Church Makadara, Vicar General to Archbishop J.J McCarthy, Education Secretary and General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops of Kenya, Bishop of Eldoret, Chairman of the Kenya Episcopal Conference, Archbishop of Mombasa and as Chairman of the Bible Society of Kenya.
By Bernadette Khaduli