Nairobi Catholic Archbishop Cautions against “Satan and his accomplices”, Emphasizes Reliance on Word of God

“We can better comprehend our struggles with sin and learn how to overcome them through faith and reliance on God,” Archbishop Anyolo says.

He re-emphasizes the need to nurture a relationship with the person of Jesus Christ through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, saying, “With Jesus, with the word of God which is the ‘sword of the Spirit’ (Eph. 6:17), with daily family prayer, especially that of the Holy Rosary you shall overcome Satan and his deceptions.”

In his Pastoral Letter circulated to the 127 Parishes of his Metropolitan See, Archbishop Anyolo recalls the national 2025 Lenten Campaign, which members of the of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) officially launched on February 28 under the theme, “The Kenya We Desire”.

“In this Lenten Campaign, The Kenya We Desire, we are called to reflect not only on what we want for ourselves but also on what we seek for others,” he says, and explains, “We are called to desire and work for the good of all people, regardless of their background or status. The collective good is our responsibility, and we must desire a society that fosters equality, justice, and compassion.”

The Catholic Church leader, who started his Episcopal Ministry in February 1996 as Bishop of Kenya’s Kericho Diocese highlights the vice of corruption in the country, saying, “The desire for a corrupt-free Kenya must become a deep aspiration for each of us.”

“Let us remember also that no one – technocrats, politicians, officers, religious, and Priests – is immune from the temptation of greed which leads to corrupt practices,” Archbishop Anyolo says.

He challenges the Kenyan government to invest in youths. He says, “There is immense potential in our about 37 million young people who make up the bulk of Kenya’s population. Both the young people and their elders are to work together in channelling the youthful energy and potential our young people have for the well-being of all.”

In his Pastoral Letter, Archbishop Anyolo highlights the three pillars of the Lenten Season, almsgiving, prayer, and fasting as important. In explaining them, he draws inspiration from St. Thomas Aquinas, the Doctor of the Church, patron saint of students, distinguished philosopher and theologian, and author of the “Summa Theologica.”

“St. Thomas Aquinas teaches that almsgiving is an act of justice and mercy, fulfilling Christ’s command to love our neighbour. He explains that charity is the highest virtue because it unites us with God and leads to eternal happiness,” Archbishop Anyolo says.

He adds, “During Lent, almsgiving is a means of detachment from material wealth and an opportunity to practice generosity. Jesus asked us to store up our treasures in heaven, primarily by coming to the aid of the less fortunate of our families and communities.”

The Catholic Archbishop, who has been at the helm of Nairobi Archdiocese since November 2021 expresses his awareness of the needy in his Metropolitan See and the need to reach out to them with help.

He goes on to recommend groups in his Metropolitan See that can facilitate the reaching out to the needy, including St. Vincent de Paul Society and Missionaries of Charity.

“We could and should channel our resources, the fruits of our sacrifices, and fasting through these groups and communities to assist the poor in our midst,” Archbishop Anyolo says, adding, “By giving to the poor and supporting charitable works, Catholics embody the self-giving love of Christ, who emptied Himself for the salvation of humanity.”

Focusing on prayer, he says, “St. Thomas Aquinas teaches that prayer is an essential act of religion by which humans align their wills with God’s divine plan.”

Archbishop Anyolo adds, “In the Summa Theologica, ‘Prayer is necessary, not so that we may change the divine disposition, but that we may ask that which God has disposed to be fulfilled by our prayers.’”

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He goes on to explain, “Prayer does not change God’s will but helps us to conform to His will. During Lent, Catholics are called to deepen their prayer life, seeking greater union with God. Prayer is an act of dying to ourselves, it is an act of humility before God who created us in love.”

Through prayer, the faithful acknowledge their sins, seek forgiveness, and “cultivate a spirit of gratitude for Christ’s redemptive sacrifice,” Archbishop Anyolo says.

On fasting, he cites St. Thomas Aquinas, who said that the practice helps put under control “the lusts of the flesh, helping us to subdue desires that may lead to sin.”

Fasting, he says, also elevates “the mind to higher things, allowing a person to focus on spiritual realities rather than physical pleasures.”

“St. Thomas Aquinas defends fasting as a meritorious act when done with the right intention for the glory of Christ,” Archbishop Anyolo says, explaining that “Lenten fasting is not merely an external observance but an internal discipline that fosters virtue, self-control, and detachment from worldly excess.”

In his Pastoral Letter, the Local Ordinary of Nairobi Archdiocese has explained the link between the Lenten Season and Easter. 

He has said, “Lent is not merely a time of self-denial; it is a sacred opportunity to receive God’s transformative love, preparing us spiritually for the joy and hope of Easter.”