Show the World Who You “really are”, Nuncio to Kenyans, Calls for Peaceful Elections

“That is an indication of being a grown up and mature nation – that you are able to overcome your tribal feelings and you can understand the good qualities in the other,” the Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya said, and added, “That is what binds Kenya together.”

the Dutch-born Vatican diplomat said Kenya is a country for everyone to be proud of, and added, “I hope you are proud of it as well.”

“Kenya is a country with enormous potential, with very good people,” he said, and added, “I have lived for a very long time in Africa and one of the things that I very much admire is your education system. People who go to school in Kenya are really learning something and that is what gives more quality to the future. If you pay attention to education and formation, then your country grows.”

Archbishop van Megen who started his service as Apostolic Nuncio in Sudan in 2014 urged Kenyans to focus on positive press content especially at this time when the media is filled with negative content.

He said, “When you read the newspaper, you tend to give attention to the negative aspects of the country. It happens everywhere, even in my own country. Let us, however, look at the good things. Let us look at the things that can help us to build up together.”

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“Let us encourage each other, put our shoulders together in this country Kenya, which is so blessed by God Himself,” the Nuncio in Kenya said during the imposition of the Pallium on Archbishop Muhatia at Tumsifu Centre of Kisumu Archdiocese.

Archbishop Muhatia was installed as the Local Ordinary of Kisumu on March 19 and received the Pallium from Pope Francis during Holy Mass on the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, on June 29, at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican.

In his speech at the July 30 event, Archbishop Muhatia also appealed to the people of God in the East African country to practice restraint during the electioneering period. 

“We are requesting for restraint in the remaining few days of the campaigns; restraint by the leaders in the campaigns pertaining to what they say, how they say it, even with the body language,” Archbishop Muhatia said.

He added, “We request for restraint among the Kenyans. Kenya is a very lovely country. We have witnessed in the last 10 years of peace how much progress has been made, achieved and seen in our respective places, including our own city of Kisumu. We want to see more of this peace so that development may reach the villages of every county. We can only achieve this by maintaining peace.”