Catholic Bishop Serving Kenya’s Marginalized Communities Urges Development Agencies to Serve without Discrimination

The Bishop encouraged the faithful to be true followers of Jesus Christ by spreading the Gospel through acts that benefit others and change their lives, leading them to discover that God is their Lord. 

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese in Northern Kenya highlighted the importance of opening up ‘our hearts’ to acts of love and kindness, which he noted have the ability to touch and transform the lives of those who are in despair, leading them to rejoice because “through us, they have seen the face of God and known that He loves them.”

He invited the people of God in his Diocese to draw inspiration from St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who became a powerful example of this love because of the way she lived her life, embodying what she understood above all else—compassion and service. 

He said Mother Teresa dedicated herself to helping the poor she encountered, moved by their plight. “She left other things aside, prioritizing those who were in need first. Because of this, she became an exemplary figure and was officially recognized by the Church, being declared a patron of good deeds,” the Bishop said.

“Let us not depend on others to help us; let us also contribute what we have so that it may reach many more people in need,” appealed the Bishop during in his homily on the Caritas Day initially slated for the September 5.

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Bishop Kihara, who has been at the helm of the Diocese since January 2007, noted that every Diocese and the entire Church have a primary duty to prioritize reaching those in need and lauded Caritas Marsabit for reflecting the Diocese’s compassion towards all and for being its arm of generosity and love through their team’s selfless work.

“After preaching the Word of God, acts of love must follow. These actions confirm the words we preach,” he said.

He said that when the Diocese of Marsabit was established, the Church immediately realized that the people were in great need. The people he said, were “thirsty, uneducated, without food, without basic necessities.”

He said the Diocese embarked on various projects to address these needs. “You all know the good that our Church has done from the beginning. After nearly 60 years, we can see that God continues to bless this mission, and the situation has improved,” said the Bishop, who began his Episcopal Ministry in January 2007 following his appointment on November 2006.

“Let us be thankful and pray that God increases His blessings upon us, so that we may all know it is not just those called Caritas Marsabit who are called to this mission. It is you, me, and our contributions,” he said, and added, “When our baskets are full, they will reach even more people, and we will continue to receive blessings from God, who sees our acts of love and compassion and rewards us. We too will reap the benefits.”