Witu-Kipini Magazine

Ujumbe@Witu/Kipini A magazine of the Mill Hill Missionaries in Witu/Kipini Parish

St. Josef Freinademetz Parish Witu/Kipini P. O. Box 84 Diocese of Malinidi kenya

January-June 2019

News events Within Witu/Kipini

Volume 1. Issue No 1

First Priest from Witu/Kipini Parish ordained for the Archdiocese of Mombasa

Designed by:

From the Editor

Greetings and very warm welcome to all our readers. I have the pleasure of introducing to you this 1st edition of our Parish Magazine Ujumbe@Witu/Kipini, a Magazine that will keep you informed about events within our parish. The parish has continued to realize a number of events and pastoral experiences worth sharing.

To start with, our parish is named after St. Josef Freinademetz but the parish is commonly known as Witu/kipini parish. This parish, which is made up of two pastoral zones i.e. Witu and Kipini zones, is situated in the diocese of Malindi in the Coastal region of Kenya. The parish circumscription covers two civil administrative counties: Witu, found in Lamu West County, is about 150km from Malindi town along the road to Lamu; and Kipini, found in Tana Delta County, is some 25km south of Witu.

Witu zone is comprised of the following Christian communities: Witu (the parish center where the parish church and presbytery are found), Soroko, Chakamba, Katsakakairo, Vatican, Kakathe and Moa. Kipini zone has more Christian communities: Kipini (the centre for kipini zone also has a presbytery), Kizuliani, Shauri Moyo, Gaatundu, Maisha Masha, Kaloleni, Jericho and Chumvi.

Apart from the Minjila Lamu road which is being tarmacked at the moment, all the other roads in the parish are either marram or sandy. The road network in Kipini zone principally, is very bad and movement in the zone becomes very hectic especially in the rainy seasons.

Our parish area has an approximate population of about five to six thousand inhabitants, majority of whom are Muslims. The indigenous tribes of the area are the Giriama, Pokomo, Orma, Somali and Swahili. There are also people from other tribes like Taita, Kikuyu, Kamba, Luyah, Meru, Kisii, Luo, etc who have come to settle in the parish territory. This latter group forms the majority of the Christian (and especially Catholic) population.

The vast majority of our Christians live in their farms (homesteads) and their living condition is very basic. Their farms are their sole source of livelihood. In these farms, what they mainly plant is maize and a variety of beans for both domestic and economic purposes. They also cultivate the cotton plant for economic intent. Most of them do not have access to the lone pipe-borne water project (WIWA: Witu Water Project), so they rely on fetching water from wells (visima) either provided by the local community or foreign aid. Our

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parish through the help of well-wishers has been instrumental in ensuring that people get wells deep down in the villages. The closest well (of drinkable water) to some of the homesteads can be as far away as 10km. They thus use jerry cans to transport water from the visima to their homesteads.

What the people mostly use for transport within this area are bicycles (which many own), motor bikes and many have to walk long distances; there are a few well-off families that own motor bikes (pikipiki) which are also used for public transport to generate income. In this area, the language of communication is the Swahili language (Kiswahili).

To make a long story short, the parish has experienced a steady growth in evangelization and recently turned a new leaf as she sent out one of her own (Rev. Fr. Joseph Mwarabu) to serve in the archdiocese of Mombasa as a priest ordained for the said Archdiocese.

We desire to make you part of our journey through this newsletter.

In this first edition, we shall be updating you with recent happenings. The beginning of 2019 was marked by sad news following the dead of our parish pastoral council chairperson Mr. Frederick Karema (RIP) who passed away on the 2nd of February. Alongside all other positive events that have taken place. We shall be sharing with you some of our pastoral experiences.

Having mentioned just a few issues amongst many, we hope that you will appreciate the rest of the stories.

We welcome your suggestions and undertake to integrate the same to make the publication even better and a must read for all friends of Witu/Kipini Parish.

Rev. Fr. Alexander Kimbi Toaghang mhm Editor, Ujumbe@Witu/Kipini Parish E-mail: toaghang@yahoo.com

Witu Church

Brief History of Witu/Kipini Parish The Mill Hill Missionaries started their evangelization work in the Witu – Kipini area in 1993 when Fr. Albert Buijs MHM decided to move to Kipini to start a new mission there. This move was as a result of the request made in 1990 by the then bishop of Garissa Diocese, Paul Darmanin OFM. Cap, inviting the Mill Hill Missionaries working in Kenya, to come and help in his diocese. The bishop had offered the areas of Garsen (Tana River County) and Lamu (Lamu County) which are about 120km apart.

This request was accepted by the Mill Hill Kenya Society Council which met in Nairobi from 5th to 6th February 1991 after Frs. Alfons Geerts MHM and Mick Smyth MHM had reconnoitered this area and presented their report at that Council meeting. Four volunteers were then requested for this mission by the Council.

Br. Franz Bischof, Frs. Albert Buijs, Jan van Dyk and Cornelius Schilder decided to embark on this mission. So in 1992 Fr. Jan van Dyk took up residence in the island of Lamu and on the 6th January 1992 Br. Franz and Fr Albert moved to Garsen and later to Tarasaa. When Fr. Schilder came to Tarasaa in 1993, Fr. Albert moved to Lamu. After a short while, the bishop asked Fr. Albert to start a mission in Witu

on the land the diocese had bought the year before courtesy of. Fr. Francis Baldacchino OFM. Cap (Then he was Parish Priest of Mpeketoni. He later became the first bishop of Malindi Diocese in the year 2000).

Now Fr. Albert couldn’t stay in Witu because of the ‘Shifta’ (a group of very dangerous armed robbers) who were terrorizing the area at that time. He then settled in Kipini which is approximately 21km South of Witu.

Fr Albert’s First house in Kipini

Fr. Albert’s House in Kipini near the Mosque 3

When Fr. Albert arrived in Kipini, he acquired a small hut made from corrugated iron sheets which he placed in the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) compound. He lived in it for four years. Later when seminarians were sent for pastoral experience, this hut became too small so he rented a bigger house with a thatched roof just next to the big mosque in Kipini. This house became the parish house and office till 2003. In 2001, Fr. Albert succeeded to acquire a small plot next to Kipini Primary School.

This land now contains some five rental rooms.

For ten years, the few Catholics of Kipini village and immediate environs, used as a place for worship, a small old dilapidated building which was used by the colonial government as an arsenal. During that period, evangelization extended to the farmers within and without the new Witu settlement scheme, most of which belonged to Kipini Division.

In this settlement scheme, the Catholics and those willing to become Catholics started meeting in the home of one of the Catholics for prayers on Sundays. Their first meeting place was in Laiga near kipini. Other communities were formed in Chumvi, Mbwageni and Kizuiliani. Meanwhile, Fr. Albert did not only concentrate in Kipini Division. He extended his mission to Witu Division and started a small Christian Community in Soroko and then Witu itself which used to meet every Sunday at Witu Secondary School for Mass. Later on, small grass-roofed structures were constructed in some

areas like Gatungu, Laiga and Soroko. Subsequently, with the assistance of Fr. Albert, they acquired readymade round structured corrugated iron sheet huts as their houses of worship in the areas of Chmvi, Kizuiliani Mbwageni and Witu.

In October 2001, Fr. Albert was transfered to Malindi and Fr. Adolf Poell MHM took over to continue the work of evangelization. He lived and worked from Kipini for two years and in March 2003, he permanently moved to Witu to that piece of land acquired way back in 1992 by Fr. Francis.

When the parish house in Witu was blessed on the 8th March 2003 by the Bishop of Malindi Diocese, Francis Baldachino OFM. Cap, the mission stations of Moa and Katsakakairo (then belonging to Wema Parish) were handed over to Witu-Kipini parish because of their proximity to Witu. A month earlier, i.e. in February 2003, Fr Adolf Poell bought a much bigger piece of land in Kipini, not far from the one Fr. Albert bought. It is on this land that the Kipini church and Presbytery now stand.

By Fr. Emmanuel Nzenze Epie mhm Former MEP student in Witu/Kipini

Kipini Zonal council meeting in front of the present presbytery in Kipini.

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Students of Witu Catholic Girls’ Hostel with some parish visitors in their school campus

Witu Catholic Girls’ Hostel The picture above is the fruit of a dream that father Adolf Poll had few years ago in Witu. This dream was ignited by the observation that more than half of the families in Witu could not afford the luxury of sending their children to boarding schools which are really expensive. He also observed that many people who could manage to send their children to the only day secondary school within Witu were also faced with the challenge of accommodation for their children and especially the girls. This challenge was accounted for by the fact that most people live in their farms which are far from Witu town. With this, it is difficult for students to walk to school on daily bases. Also bearing in mind that it is a challenging task for parents to rent houses for teenage girls in town without assurance of security, Fr. Adolf thought that it would be a good idea to create space within the parish compound to provide girls with accommodation. In 2015 the parish hosted 15 students who benefited from this dream.

As years went by, the number increased steadily.

At the moment, the parish is hosting 48 girls who are studying in Witu Mjini secondary school.

Besides being just a home where they can stay and study, the hostel has brought about a life changing experience for many girls as they are able to live a comparative school life with their friends who are in boarding schools. Through a steady prayer programme in the hostel, some have improved morally, socially and spiritually. Some of the Catholic students who came from the villages have benefited from the parish catechetical programme to prepare for their Baptism and Frist Holy Communion. It has been a rich cultural experience for them too as they come from different backgrounds and share their ideas through their social evenings. It is also a rich faith experience as there is a mixture of students

from different religious backgrounds: Catholics, Muslims, and other Christian sects. With these, the hostel is helping the students to provide them with holistic education.

The girls Hostel has been a blessing for a good number of girls around Witu and Kipini as well as a blessing for families who have come together to oversee the smooth running of the hostel. Two Ladies Loise and Esther have been employed to work as matrons for the girls, seeing into it that the girls have what it takes for them to live and study well. They also play the role of parents by being there for them and helping them in times of difficulties. Mr. Joseph has also been employed as a night watchman to ensure that they are safe at night.

Sr. Margarat Tambasi, Sr. Felisha and I, Fr. Kimbi mhm form the Management board.

Hostel girls infront of the hostel in their dailly wear with some of their Benefactors

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1 of HIV / AIDS Light a candle for someone who died Tuvumuliane Witu HIV & AIDS Care Prevention and Support Programme Celebrates Candle Lighting Memorial Day Held at Ziwani Primary School Tana River County On 18th May 2019, Tuvumiliane Witu celebrated candle lighting memorial day at Ziwani primary school with the theme: Intensifying the fight for Health and Rights among the HIV clients and all those affected by the epidemic. The candle lighting ceremony is an old celebration that is celebrated worldwide each year to mark the remembrance of the victims who succumbed to HIV &AIDS.

The lighting of the candles The memorial ceremony included the arrangement of the candles which were decorated with the

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ribbon symbol for HIV that were lit by a section of the congregation to remember their loved ones.

The annual celebration has since been celebrated over 19 years now and the Memorial is held every third Sunday of May yearly.

Other reasons for celebrating this memorial day include:  Help in community mobilization campaign to raise social consciousness about HIV/ AIDS.  Remember with hope those who died from HIV & AIDS.  For global solidarity with those infected with the HIV.  To break barriers of stigma and discrimination among the HIV clients.  Giving hope to the new generation that already lives with the virus.

The celebration started at 10 am and ended by 4pm. It began with the prayers from Father Cyprian of Witu catholic parish and closing prayer from the Muslim cleric Sheikh. The celebration was graced with young as well as old generation who entertained the congregation with different songs and performances to mark the day. At the middle of the day when people had gathered together, the public health officer from Kipini health Centre

Children attending During candle lighting day gave a talk on the HIV health statistics in Tana River County.

He continued to state that the demographics of people is 293,261 persons, the male accounts to 47% and female 53%. While the approximate population living with HIV in the county is 1200 persons adults and children 172 totaling to 1372 persons. Only 1200 tested positive that amounting to 2% of the HIV prevalence {KAIS 2012}. However, the sub-county clinician clarified that the population should not rejoice over low percentage since only twenty percent of the population have come out to test for HIV but the higher percentage have not come out to test thus not showing the right figure.

These figures indicate women to be more vulnerable to HIV prevalence than men. The challenge is to prevent new infections among the population to beyond zero campaign. He indicated that factors that lay a great role to this women vulnerability includes: Polygamous marriages Wife inheritance among certain cultures Re-marrying Low literacy levels in women Poverty Unskilled deliveries Early marriages High divorce rates.

In his speech, the Witu dispensary clinical officer in charge also added that: those who have been

tested positive for HIV must become responsible so as to cut down new transmissions. The mother who has been diagnosed of HIV needs to go to hospital early enough to get medication. In his speech, the PHO of Kipini dispensary said that by 2009 only 27% of the populace had come forth for HIV screening. By 2015/2016, only 38 % of the people knew their HIV status (Kenya HIV County Profile 2014) Of the 1200 persons tested positive in Tana River County, 841 are in the health care programme, with 725 being on ARVs. Of all these, only 89 people have achieved viral suppression. This could be an indicator of low drug adherence and defaulter tracing with high stigma rates, cultural believes and taboos.

CHALLENGES

Stigma and discrimination are the biggest hindrances to the provision of services in Tana River County.

GOALS To reduce stigma and discrimination, transmission of HIV infection, poverty, illiteracy through awareness forums.

To promote progressive practices through community empowerment and involvement by 2020.

90/90/90 strategy: Out of the total number diagnosed 90% to be identified, 90% to be on care, and 90% to be suppressed.

He(who?) talked on the 90/90/90 strategy to represent, first 90 to stand for, know their HIV status, the second 90, those who have been found positive to use the medicine correctly, the last 90 stand for, those taking medicine to suppress the virus to less than 1000 copies viral load. This is the strategy put forward by the World Health Organization to help curb the rising HIV rates in the world.

For those who have been suppressed are to be given medicine even after every three months to avoid the burden of monthly visits to the hospital.

Experience on the ground shows that most HIV/ AIDS patients in Lamu and Tana River counties do not use their medicines correctly thus having high viral loads. Few have suppressed the virus. Most of

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the new infections are among adolescents where the youths are not guided correctly thus being at the danger of new infections. He thus urged the leaders from all spheres to help the young generation to have a bright future with no new transmissions.

The explanation on the four candles was thus given as: hope, love, faith and light symbolizing how HIV clients are treated at their homes and most of which die of loneliness and not necessarily succumbing to the disease.

When the candles are blown out, darkness prevails and as a result, one dies out of despair in life.

We need to Keep the candles lit in order to

give life.

At the closing of the day, Sr Margaret the

project coordinator gave a vote of thanks and appreciated all members who graced the occasion with their presence not forgetting the police officers who provided security in the place.

By Sr. Nancy Mong’ina FMSJ Witu 8

Witu/Kipini Parish Pastoral Council Chairman laid to rest

On the 2nd of February 2019, we woke up ready to travel to Kaloleni (one of our mission stations) for a parish council meeting. Though the chairperson of the council had planned the meeting himself, we were all aware that he would not be present since he had travelled to the town of Mombasa to receive medical attention. From January he had complained of persistent headaches and had tried to get medical help around Witu but with little improvement.

That morning, just before we could declare ourselves ready to start the journey, Mr. Orembe (Chairperson of the Parish Centre) received a disturbing phone call from Dr. Benson, one of our parish council executive member notifying us of the demise of Mr. Karema. It was a stressful moment for all of us. We proceeded to the meeting that Late Mr. Karema organized and the agenda for that meeting had to include how to plan for his funeral.

On the 8th of February 2019, His mortal remains were brought from the mortuary in Mombasa to his new home in Witu Town for few minutes and then to the parish church where a requiem Mass was celebrated. Fr Emmanuel Nzenze mhm, the main celebrant at that requiem Mass explained during his homily why he could not fail to travel from Uganda to Witu to bury the late Mr. Karema.

Worthy of note in his homily was the Late Mr. Karema’s journey to Catholicism. The late Mr. Karema was not born a catholic. He got married to Mama Rose a Catholic. In 2012, he made a turning point in his life with the journey to becoming a Catholic. In his homily titled “Karema you do not belong to Satan, you belong to God”, Fr. Nzenze describes his role in that Journey thus: “I call him Babangu (my father) and he calls

me mwanangu (my son)! Why is he my father when I only met him in 2012 when I came to Witu as a seminarian When he decided to become a full Catholic and receive th sacraments of initiation and matrimony, Fr. Adolf assigned me to prepare him and mama Rose for the sacraments. In the course of that preparation, they decided to get a child for the sacrament of matrimony. God gave them a son and they named him Emmanuel Nzenze after me. So, he is my father and that is why I had to travel 1950kms from Karamoja in Uganda to come for his funeral”…

The journey the late Mr. Karema started in 2012 became very visible to everyone that he was home in the Catholic Church. He became so active in the church to the extent that within a very short time, he was elected as chairperson of the Mission council in his mission station of Moa. In 2014 he was elected and was reelected as the chairperson of the parish pastoral council. A position that he help till the moment he breathed his last.

His mortal remains were later taken to his Home at Moa for a night and burial took place on the 9th of February.The funeral mass was presided over by Fr. Adolf (the parish Priest).

The Late Mr. Frederick Karema Kazungu was a loving family man. He was the head teacher at Moa Primary School for many years and died serving as the head teacher at Katsakakairu Primary school. He was loved by children.

At the funeral mass on the 9th of February, many speeches described him as a true leader and truly he was. The work he did as our parish pastoral council chairman bears testimony to this.

He has left behind his wife Mama Rose Karema, two sons, two daughters, a grandson, relatives, friends and entire witu/kipini parish community to mourn him. May his soul rest in peace.

The Wife of Late Karema in the middle and some Catholic Women at the funeral Mass.

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Our visit to Pandanguo in Boni Forest In Kenya, Boni forest is a popular name due to the many stories related to the terrorist group “Al Shaabab” activities that have taken place in that area. The forest is large and extends from Witu right to neighboring Somalia. One of the villages in Boni forest is called Pandanguo. That is the village that experienced the latest attacks when I was preparing to take up my appointment in Witu last year.

Though Pandanguo is just 20kms from Witu, it has been a no go area for me. It is common knowledge around Witu that it is not safe there. But wait! There are people who live there and that is their only home. Fr. Adolf Pöll mhm reminded us of this at a table discussion at supper on the 2nd of April. Going for a visit could be a good idea, we thought. Myself, Adolf and three of our MEP students: Camille, Collins and Ochwo, were ready to undertake the journey the next morning to meet the Boni people at Pandanguo.

In the morning, we put together a few things and some fruits to eat in case no one gave us something to eat. We left the parish, went through Witu town and off into the bush. We went for about 10kms. It was a quiet road with few houses along the road. Few motorbikes passed us by as we went along. All of a sudden there was a vehicle coming towards us at high speed. When they saw us, they started flashing their lights. I was driving and I was a bit scared. They came closer and stopped. It was the GSU, a branch of the Kenya Armed Forces. Within a few seconds, the commander had asked us many questions, we had no idea where to start answering them all. “Who, how, when, why authorized you to go to this village?” Even before we could put our

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heads together to give an answer, our vehicle was already surrounded and instructions were given that everyone of us should alight from the car. The students had to step out immediately with their identification documents.

We managed to explain to them who we were. Fortunately for us, the only water well that the whole village was fetching water from, including the soldiers themselves, had been constructed by Adolf. So we also told them we had sent someone to repair the well, and we wanted to find out how he got on. Immediately things changed. They called their Inspector there at Pandanguo to tell him we were coming.

When we arrived in the village, there was a group of elders sitting at the village dispensary.

They all knew Adolf. They immediately brought us seats and started recounting the many good things that Fr. Adolf had done for them in the past. I was amazed to see that when other elders heard that Adolf was around, they were all coming out to meet him at the village centre. I recall the smile on the face of one elderly man who came and said to Adolf: “I am still alive.” Adolf himself was wondering what he meant. The man continued: “I was dying some years back and you came and took me to the hospital in Lamu. I got well and came back and I am still alive and well”. For me those words were emotional. I felt that the visit was worthwhile.

One of the elders took us around the village.

We waved to people as we walked around, shaking hands with those seeking shelter under the trees because of the blazing sun. Some who knew Fr. Adolf called him from a distance “Father……” as they came towards us. Many people were happy

to meet him again.

We noticed that the village was heavily guarded by the GSU. The inspector himself came to share a word with us. Fr. Adolf greeted him in his local language of Kikuria. The inspector told us that he knew a Mill Hiller called Fr. Angelo Insam who had opened a new parish in his home area of Kehancha and had built a big and beautiful church there. He

acknowledged our visit and recommended that we come to pray with the soldiers living in many tents surrounding the village.

As we departed, I meditated on the visit. It was a great adventure. Jesus’ invitation to Simon in Lk 5:1-6 became so meaningful to me. “Launch out into the deep”. This is an invitation to take the risk to venture out on mission.

Highlights of our movement in the picture below and some people that we met in lthe village

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TUVUMILIANE MAKES THE MOVE TO RESTORE THE GLORY OF MOTHER EARTH In “Laudato Si” the encyclical of Pope Francis published in 2015, On the Care for our Common Home, Holy Father Francis critiques consumerism and irresponsible development. He goes ahead to lament environmental degradation and global warming, and calls all people of the world to take swift and unified global action.

In response to this call, Tuvumiliane HIV/ AIDS support group members with their base in Witu Catholic Church, in partnership with the county government of Lamu, found a meaning in the Pope’s words and therefore joined hands to care of mother earth (Our Common Home).

Tuvumiliane Support Group is a group of people (from all walks of life and faiths) living with HIV/AIDS; these are people who have accepted their HIV status and are now working together to help their fellow members who are still stigmatized.

In addition to this, their main aim is to fight for their rights and eradicate HIV/AIDS stigma. This group was formed in 2007 by a few members and currently, there are about 50 members in the group.

Apart from these campaigns, they are also helping themselves through different projects. One of these projects is their Farm Project found in Vipingoni (a village about 4km from Witu town).

On the 31st of May 2019, the group

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gathered in their farm, equipped with shuffles and ready for the day’s activity. They had set aside this particular day in their last meeting to plant trees.

It was coincidental that the county commander and his team had also planned to visit the group on that same day. The joy of planting trees was complemented with receiving special guests in their farm.

In the farm that morning with zeal and energy, they all embarked on digging holes for the trees, while waiting the County Commissioner, (name) who had promised to bring more seedling on his visit. At around 2:00pm, the county commissioner together with the ACC (Assistant County Commissioner), The inspector and other officers arrived at the farm. They had come from one of the nearby schools, where they had also

gone to supply and plant trees. To Tuvumiliane, they chairperson of the group Madame Rose thanked gave out 50 different types of trees which they also the County commissioner on behalf of the group participated in planting. All the trees were planted and promised full support for the work the armed forces are doing in Witu.

Apart from these trees, they also brought special types of maize and beans seeds. Mr. Palminers Muchangi (the county commander) explained and demonstrated how the seeds are to be planted and maintained. Before they left, the county commander and his crew made few speeches. In his speech, he congratulated the group for the good work they are doing. He went ahead to promise to support the group with some farm tools. He further invited members of the group to assist the county government in matters of security. He also mentioned that just as they had assisted the group in planting trees, the police could assist the community in doing many other things if the community cooperates with the police. The

By Sr. Irene Akinyi FMSJ Witu 13

Orma Village in Moa

MOA-A Village of Diversity In the spirit of taking the center to the peripheries, I was excited to go and stay in one of the fourteen outstations of Witu-Kipini mission. Moa, where I stayed for about two weeks is about thirty minutes away from Witu by motorbike. I spent the two weeks visiting the Catholic Christians in their homes and just being with them in their different daily situations. It was an experience like no other: feeling so close to the reality of the people; sitting with them without the feeling of being in a hurry and nourishing my body by the abundance of the generosity of the people; listening to them, sharing with them stories about life and feeling the warmth of each other’s faith in Christ who is the Source of hope for us. I also had the chance to interact with the muslims and Christians of other denominations.

As I continued with my experience in Moa, it was easy to observe the diversity within that village. The village is a habitat to four main tribes: the Orma, Luo, Luhya and the Giriama. What struck me regarding this is that each tribal group has a section of the village where they stay. A Giriama stays among fellow kin just as the Luhya and the Luo

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do. It would be out of the ordinary for a Giriama to plant his house among the Orma. One resident commenting on the reality said, “We understand each other’s language…but each one speaks their own.” This was when I inquired about the level of integration among the different groups.

The habitants learning each other’s language is a commendable thing. It indicates some level of mutual acceptance and respect among the tribes.

Each tribe has retained their uniqueness but also reach out beyond themselves. This is a positive response to the Holy Spirit who draws us towards each other and calls us to communion as a people.

The people also share water-points, shopping areas, fishing areas and schools.

Moa is also endowed with different religious streams: Islam and various Christian denominations.

I find this to be a beauty of life that should be encouraged; the world needs not be filled by people of my own kind in order for life to be enjoyable and beautiful. My tribe should co-exist with many other tribes and life will be even more enriched; Catholics, other Christian denominations and Muslims should

accept each other and collaborate to work towards of a Luhya close to the one of the Orma, or a Luo and what benefits humanity even on the smallest of a Giriama being the most immediate neighbours!

The task is to realize the working of the Spirit among scales. the people of Moa and join the Spirit in fostering The diversity lived in Moa is a witness deeper fraternal living and allow this be a way of to Kenya as a nation which is still struggling for life for everyone. This is how important dialogue is integration as the ‘cancer’ of tribalism eats deep in the realization of a harmonious world. into the fabric of the nation. Also, in the coastal Dialogue is a factor that should permeate environment where Al Shabaab -a terrorist group is determined to sore religious divisions among every sphere of human life because as Martin Buber people, it is a noteworthy witness for the residents says, “Man is a Dialogical being”. Such a spirit should of Moa to have a peaceful co-existence with their be allowed to work even in simplest situations such as allowing of other people’s opinions and differences in religion. respecting them. Leading to the acceptance of the However, all has not come so easily and fact that God is at work even in other people and in neither is it all done. There is still effort to be made other religions for no one falls outside the fold of to foster deeper integration among the tribes and those who belong to God. religions. How beautiful it would be to see a house

Lake Moa where the Luhya community do fishing

By Rev Deacon. Kevin Barasa, mhm

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Catholic Teacher’s Association Witu/Kipini Parish (CTA)

CTA is a group of teachers within Witu/ Kipini parish. It primarily comprises of professional teachers with a mission to teach others and to be committed Christians. It provides an avenue for teachers to share experiences and learn better ways of handling learner’s spiritual development through pastoral instructions and other aspects of life in relation to contemporary issues.

The group has been very instrumental in the parish.

CTA participates in various activities including leading in Holy Mass, buying cleaning equipmentwhich they recently did and participating in church projects. Considering the parish financial needs and fund raisings done time to time for the parish and diocese maintenance, CTA has been very supportive.

This association was started by Father Constantine Kimondo in 2010 supported by Sister Angeline.

These two founders currently work in other parishes in the Diocese. Later in 2017 Fr. Ta-ah invited Fr. Oriacio to help revitalize the group. It is at this point that the group membership was well established.

One unique thing about the group is bringing together members from different other groups.

Most of the teachers are also members of the CMA, CWA and choir. The group is prudent enough to congratulate Mr. Charles Ojiambo who has been a successful chairperson up to date.

CTA has been vigilant and united to ensure that every member is in line with the group’s objectives and development. Among the activities they do to promote their unity is periodical meetings and gatherings done monthly and quarterly respectively.

Some of their strengths in meetings and gatherings are sharing meal, dressing on common T-shirts, making merry together and peer learning. Just to sight one of the most successful seminars on Human and Child trafficking facilitated by Sister Faustina FMSJ. In 2017 when security was chaotic in the parish, CTA visited and played an important role in showing love to the affected. The group visited the internally displaced people in Katsakakairu where they supplied water, distributed clothes and consoled them. They also took part in visiting and helping the sick.

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By. Madame Christine Chishenga Head teacher Reketha Primary School.

First Mass of Fr. Joseph Hiribae Mwarabu in Witu

Witu-Kipini Parish Day Celebration: Welcoming Mass of the first priest of the Parish and prayers for the repose of the soul of Francis Taah

March 23rd 2019 was a day like non before in Witu/ Kinipi Parish. It was unique because it brought together three big celebrations: The Feast of St Josef Freinademetz (parish patron saint) which was shifted from the proper day; The First Mass of Fr. Joseph Hiribae (the first priest ordained from Witu/ Kipini parish) and a memorial Mass for the repose of the soul of Late Mr Francis Ta-ah (the father of Fr. Cyprian Ta-ah)

that some of our mission stations are over 40km away from the parish centre. In few words, I can say from my experience that the celebration was joyful. We had a wonderful celebration of the Eucharist with lots of singing and dancing. Rev. Fr. Joseph Hiribae Mwarabu; the newly ordained priest for Mombasa Arch-diocese lead the holy mass. This was his first mass in his home Parish.

He is the first priest to be ordained from Witu-

Thanks to the uniqueness of this celebration, our Christians travelled from all the corners of the parish circumscription to be part of that celebration, which took place at the parish premises. It is worthy of note

Biological family of Fr. Joseph with his mother at the middle

Fr. Joseph dancing with different church groups

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Kipini parish.

Fr. Joseph was ordained for the metropolitan Archdiocese of Mombasa by his archbishop Martin Kivuva on the 23rd February, 2019. Being the first priest from the parish, the joy was over whelming to the extent that people carried him up shoulder high while singing and dancing. Attending a first mass was a unique experience for many. We continue to pray for him and his mission to the people of God of the church of Mombasa. We equally pray for more vocations from Witu/Kipini parish.

As mentioned earlier, the parish had also chosen to condole with Fr. Cyprian Ta-ah after the tragic death of his father in Cameroon at the end of last year 2018. The very sad news of the terrible death of Pa Francis Ta-ah was a very difficult one to swallow by the parishioners. However, in our Christian faith we believe that death is not the end of life but the beginning of new and full life in God.

This gives us hope and strength knowing that Christ died for us. He has therefore won for us victory over death as his believers. In the same way Saint Paul in his letter to the Ephesians 1:4 states that, “God is rich in mercy because of His great love He had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions brought us to life with Christ”. Saint Paul still states in his 1st letter to the Corinthians 15:57 that, “thanks to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

We pray that through the intercession of Saint Josef Frienademetz, many more young people may be inspired to come and serve in the Lord’s Vineyard after the example of Fr. Joseph. My God also grant eternal rest to Pa Francis Ta-ah and bring His consolation to the family he has left behind. God bless all the people of St. Josef Freinademetz Witu/ Kipini Parish!

Fr. Cyprian sharing with the Christians his Journey home for the burial of this late Father.

Besides mentioning that many families are going through a lot of pain in Cameroon due to the crisis, he invited the entire Christian community of Witu/Kipini parish to pray for peace in Cameroon.

By Ochwo Valleriano A student on mission experience in Witu/Kipini Parish

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The day of the African child celebrated on 15/6/2019 at Witu Catholic church, Lamu west sub-county, Lamu County Lamu County has indigenous cultures consisting of Giriamas, Ormas, pokomos and the Swahili groups. However, it has come to be a metropolitan community consisting of various tribes settling in because of different factors like business, job opportunities among others. For some years now, The International Day of the African Child has been celebrated each year in these communities where the school going children are the main participants. This has positively impacted children’s rights in these communities. This year the day was celebrated on 15/6/2019 while the children were in school so that they could fully and actively participate.

All major stakeholders in full collaboration with the entire community planned for the event to make the day a success. The day began with a procession done by the school children and some stakeholders from the Witu town main shopping center to the Catholic Church Witu premises. In that procession the children carried banners depicting different messages pertaining to children’s rights.

That day, many people attended the ceremony where school children participated with different enriching and touching entertainments centred on

the day’s theme ‘Humanitarian action in Africa children rights first’.

The guest of honor (Emmanuel Koech) talked on the rights of a child including going to school, right to get proper food, shelter, and good health among others.

Challenges faced by children in Lamu/Tana River counties The absence of the father figure in the home during child development stages poses a great risk thus a burden to women taking care of children alone.

The importance of giving children names which reflect virtue other than vice. Some children could be given funny names such as Kibirit Ngoma and as they grow they are, likely to behave according to the name given thus attaching importance to specific names.

Early marriages is a threat to the girl child since it hinders her dream in the future as a member of society.

Child neglect by irresponsible parents who are either divorced or are drunkards make children to suffer due to lack of parental care.

Due to the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the counties where parents die of the pandemic, children are left orphans and live to suffer and may indulge in certain activities like radicalization and child labor in the process.

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Speech by Ivy Wambui, child guest on the day of the African child “Today is the day for children in Africa, every girl and every boy with a dream for life. The day has been celebrated every year since June 1991 when it was first initiated by the then Organization of African Unity (OAU) now called the African Union (AU). This day was set in honor of the school going children in Soweto, South Africa who rose against the Apartheid government to protest against poor quality of education they received and demanded to be taught in their own language in 1976. Hundreds of young students were shot dead. This day also raises the awareness of the continued need for improvement of the education provided to African children.

The efforts and their blood spilt were not in vain.

As we remember them let us never forget that they gave a platform that inspires sober reflection and action towards addressing challenges facing African children.

This year’s team is: Humanitarian action in Africa children’s rights first. This year we are focusing on problems still facing children here in Kenya and more so here in Lamu/Tana river counties. These include: early marriages, lack of

basic education, child labor, child abuse, female genital mutilation, religious radicalization, terrorists attacks, conflicts, natural disasters just to mention a few. As a child guest, I raise my voice so that those boys and girls in various parts of the country who are denied opportunity in participating in airing their views and all other rights entitled to them because of this vices.

We call upon all leaders to develop and enforce policies and provisions of the children’s acts to promote equality of opportunity for all children. We call upon both county and national governments to develop programs that will protect children and ensure free compulsory education for every child in the country; to stop child labor, child abuse; and that children’s rights be respected by all.

We call upon all communities to stop all cultural practices that violate the rights and wellbeing of children for instance child marriages and female genital mutilation among others. We pray that every child should never forget that every child in this country is looking forward to a bright future.

Both the Muslims and the Christian denominations graced the occasion and thus a great sing of peace and unity in diversity.

May the young souls of children who died in Soweto rest in peace. Amen”

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By Sr. Nancy Mong’ina O. FMSJ

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Photos by:

St Peter’s Catholic Church Chumvi

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