Catholic Communicators in Kenya Trained on Good Governance in the Wake of Political Unrests

“All these made us think about what kind of Kenya we desire so that together we can articulate that issue and be able to define the attributes of that Kenya we desire, addressing the long-term historical problems we have had in the country,” Br. Elias Mokua said in the Wednesday, February 12 interview.

Br. Elias Mokua, the Executive Director of the Loyola Center for Media and Communications (LCMC) during the two day workshop at the Hekima Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations (HIPSIR) at Hekima University College on Wednesday, February 12. Credit: ACI Africa

Br. Mokua added, “At the heart of this whole workshop, what everyone should take away is the need to address governance issues as the Bishops see them and as the country needs them. I believe this has been achieved.”

Held at the Hekima Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations (HIPSIR) at Hekima University College, a constituent college of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), the workshop brought together Catholic communicators from dioceses and media stations across the East African nation.

Credit: ACI Africa

Mostly drawn from the KCCB’s two commissions of Justice and Peace and the Commission of Social Communication both at the national and diocesan level, participants were trained on different topics such as Artificial intelligence (AI) and its effects on families.

The participants at the February 10-12 workshop were also trained on the effects of corruption, complaints handling and compliance, and the Catholic Social Teaching (CST).

Credit: ACI Africa

In the February 12 interview, Br. Mokua said that principles of good leadership, good governance, and good citizenship were discussed.

The Kenyan member of the Society of Jesus (SJ/Jesuits) further highlighted other issues the workshop sought to address including transitional challenges in the country’s new educational curriculum and the university school payment model.

Credit: ACI Africa

“If you look at these issues closely, they are governance issues, although there are other dimensions,” he said and added that “climate change and environmental sustainability were emphasized as crucial issues, ensuring that our commitment to environmental sustainability remains strong.”

He explained, “We are here to delve deeper into each of the issues and we want it to be well understood. This serves as a formation session for these coordinators to reflect deeply and, when they return to their Dioceses, to help their teams and communities reflect deeply as well.”

Credit: ACI Africa

Participants at the workshop expressed satisfaction with the way the training was conducted and lauded LCMC and the Commission for Social Communication for the workshop’s enriching content.

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Monica Wamboi Mushangi, the moderator of the Kenya National Council of Catholic Women Association (KNCCWA) said she was touched most by the topics on the family, the youths, and corruption.

Ms. Monica Wamboi Mushangi, the moderator of the Kenya National Council of Catholic Women Association (KNCCWA) during the two day workshop. Credit: ACI Africa

Ms. Wamboi weighed in on the importance of the family, saying, “It is in the family where we can start stopping or trying to end corruption, and the change of corruption. Eradication of corruption begins with me.”

Ms. Wamboi who is also the moderator of the Catholic Women Association (CWA) in Kenya’s Nyeri Archdiocese said that if children are brought up well in families they will “grow up knowing that corruption is not good”. This, she said, would in turn lead to a corruption-free Kenya.

Credit: ACI Africa

“If it is the same family where we bring up our children to fear God, to know more about the commandments of God, to care for those around them, and to actively participate in the community and evangelization, we will be able to achieve the Kenya we desire,” she said.

Credit: ACI Africa

Moses Ndwiga, a member of CJP of Kenya’s Embu Diocese reiterated Wamboi’s sentiments, saying, “The Kenyan family has been threatened. As the Church, we have that obligation to think about how we can rescue the family as an institution.

Group photo of the Communicators on the last day of the workshop. Credit: ACI Africa

He explained, “Right now, parents are too busy looking for money, focusing on their businesses and work, and they have no time for their children. Something ought to be done before these same people start complaining in the future.”