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Kenyan Diocese Disowns Priest, Seminarian Linked to Controversial Religious Order

The leadership of Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Murang’a has cautioned various Church institutions in the East African country against recognizing two men who reportedly going around the country identifying themselves as a Priest and a Seminarian of the “Congregation of Franciscans of Our Lady of the Poor”

In a widely shared circular dated October 3 addressed to all Priests and Religious men and women in Kenya, Bishop James Maria Wainaina of Murang’a Diocese says the Congregation is yet to receive “recognition as a Religious Congregation.”

“It has come to my awareness that a certain Paul Mburu Ngumi is going around presenting himself as a seminarian of a Congregation calling itself Franciscans of Our Lady of the Poor, and going to different parishes in our diocese and probably elsewhere in the country, seeking to be recognized and to be treated as a seminarian,” Bishop Wainaina says.

He cautions, “I wish to bring to your attention and clarify that… The Congregation of Franciscans of Our Lady of the Poor has not received recognition as a Religious Congregation, and in fact, must be avoided.”

The Congregation, according to Bishop Wainaina who serves in the Economic Affairs department of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), has presented itself in “a perfidious and disreputable manner” in the Catholic Diocese of Murang’a and elsewhere in the country.

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“The young man, Paul Mburu Ngumi, who purports to be a seminarian is a person whose character is highly questionable,” Bishop Wainaina says, and adds, “He must not be admitted into our Rectories and/ or accorded reception as a seminarian.”

The Kenyan Prelate further notes that the ordination of a certain Fr. Moses Kinuthia as Priest of the contested Congregation “is shrouded with doubt.”

“Fr. Moses Kinuthia is a “priest” of the same Congregation, from Gacharage Parish. His ordination is shrouded with doubt and his personal character is also highly questionable,” Bishop Wainaina says and advices in reference to the “priest,” “He must not be received in our Rectories and /or accorded recognition as a Priest.”

In a list of images that run across the Congregation of Franciscans of Our Lady of the Poor website, there is one announcing Fr. Kinuthia’s ordination and another showing the Priest in the company of two others concelebrating Mass.

In his communique to the Church in the East African country, Bishop Wainaina calls for caution while dealing with “Seminarian” Paul and Fr. Kinuthia saying, “Let us pray for these persons so that they may experience conversion of heart and lead a life of faith.”

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Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.