Bishops in Kenya Appeal for Support to Reach Millions Affected by COVID-19 Crisis

The Bishops are welcoming support in the form of funds, food and non-food items “to support and save the lives of the affected population” across the 26 dioceses in the country.

“In-kind donations (dry food and non-food items) can be channeled through our Parishes, Diocesan and National offices and other Church Institutions,” the Bishops have stated and added, “After which all the contributions (financial and in-kind) will be collected at designated places in our Dioceses and Parishes, for distribution to the most affected people.”

They have mandated KCCB’s Catholic Health Commission of Kenya (CHCK), KCCB’s Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) and Caritas Kenya to coordinate the resource mobilization initiative.

The mobilized resources will also support health facilities providing case management of COVID-19 patients with Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs). 

In their collective letter, the Bishops have taken into consideration that not all dioceses are affected equally. In this regard, they have suggested that three quarters of the proceeds remain in the diocese for covering people who are vulnerable to the impacts of COVID-19 like the elderly, people with underlying medical conditions and the poor in informal settlements, as well as people affected by other emergencies like floods and landslides.

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A quarter of the total contributions is to be consolidated at the national level to address the most affected COVID-19 Counties, the Prelates in Kenya have stated in their letter addressed fellow Bishops, religious men and women in Kenya, KCCB Commissions and Institutions, as well as KCCB partners.

KCCB’s appeal for support follows various appeals from Bishops for needs in their respective dioceses.

On April 16, Archbishop Anthony Muheria of Nyeri Archdiocese in Central Kenya  and Bishop-elect Joseph Mwongela of Kitui diocese, Eastern Kenya launched  the Hope4U joint initiative to mobilize an estimated US$1.2 million to help feed at least 10,000 families in the two regions and beyond, for a period of two months.

The two Prelates also launched the Good Shepherd Call Center to support people who may have issues of suicidal tendencies, fear, sickness or general anxiety arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Coastal Kenya, Archbishop Martin Kivuva of Mombasa Archdiocese on April 20 launched the Archdiocese’s charity donation appeal to support its COVID-19 response.

A day later, on April 21, Fr. Albert Buijs, the Diocesan Administrator of neighboring Malindi Diocese launched a humanitarian response targeting to feed 500 most vulnerable families for a period of one month, using proceeds collected from this year’s Lenten Campaign.

On April 28, Bishop John Oballa Owaa of the Diocese of Ngong launched the COVID-19 humanitarian emergency appeal to support the vulnerable families in the area with basic needs such as food.