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Kenya’s Catholic Bishops urge respect for human life and national renewal
The Catholic bishops of Kenya have called for a renewed commitment to the dignity of human life, justice, and national dialogue, expressing concern over the growing disregard for human life and the moral challenges facing the country.
Rose Achiego Ande – Nairobi.
In a State of the Nation statement issued on Tuesday, 23 June 2026 at Donum Dei, Roussel House in Karen, Nairobi, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), led by its Chairman, Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba of Kisumu, urged all sectors of society to listen to the voices of the people and work together to safeguard human dignity.
Quoting Christ’s words, “That they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10), the bishops lamented the loss of lives through demonstrations, abductions, traffic accidents, and other incidents that continue to leave many families in grief.
“The lives of all Kenyans matter, not only the lives of the high and mighty,” the bishops said, calling on the Government, Judiciary, Parliament, counties, parents, religious leaders, and the corporate sector to place the dignity of every person at the centre of national life.
Kenya to host AMECEA plenary
The bishops also announced that Kenya will host the 21st Plenary Assembly of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) from 17 July to 26 July 2026, at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) in Nairobi.
Held under the theme, “AMECEA’s Synodal Journey with Young People: Building Bridges of Communion, Hope, Justice, and Good Governance,” the gathering is expected to bring together more than 130 bishops, clergy, religious, and lay delegates from across Eastern Africa.
The bishops described the event as “a moment of grace” and an opportunity to strengthen regional solidarity, deepen faith, and renew the Church’s pastoral mission among young people and communities facing social and economic challenges.
They invited all Catholics and people of goodwill to support the Assembly through prayer and participation.
Violence in schools
Addressing recent incidents of school unrest and fires, including the tragic dormitory fire at Utumishi Academy, the bishops expressed solidarity with the affected families and emphasised that education should be about the formation of the whole person.
“These tragedies reveal a deeper crisis of human and moral formation,” they said, stressing that schools should be places where children learn responsibility, dialogue, and respect for life.
The bishops also called on parents to reclaim their essential role in the upbringing of their children and advocated for stronger counselling and mentorship programmes in schools.
They further expressed concern over what they described as the gradual sidelining of faith-based sponsors in the governance of educational institutions, insisting that spiritual and moral formation remains indispensable in nurturing responsible citizens.
Violence at places of worship
The bishops strongly condemned the recent disruption of a meeting at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi by groups of individuals described as “goons,” warning that attacks on places of worship and public gatherings threaten constitutional freedoms and social harmony.
They described such actions as a desecration of sacred spaces and called for greater respect for freedom of worship, assembly, and association.
Concluding their message, the bishops expressed confidence in Kenya’s capacity for renewal and transformation.
Entrusting the nation to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the bishops reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s commitment to walking alongside the people of Kenya in promoting justice, peace, dialogue, and the common good.
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