Kenyan bishops appeal for
transparency in use of Covid-19 response funds
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| A passenger walk through a disinfectant tunnel before boarding a commuter train in Nairobi (AFP) |
The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops releases a
statement appealing for transparency in the use of Covid-19 response funds.
By Linda Bordoni
The Catholic Church in Kenya has repeatedly pointed to
corruption as one of the biggest ills affecting the country, and during his
October 2015 visit to the East African nation, Pope Francis urged
young people not to succumb to the allure of corruption saying it “is a path to
death as it cripples development and leads to poverty and suffering.”
Today, amid the global Covid-19 pandemic, the country’s
Catholic bishops are keeping their attention focussed on the deep rooted
scourge and are urging the government to ensure that Covid-19 emergency funds
are directed to fighting the pandemic and returning the country to
normalcy.
In a statement released on Sunday by the Kenya Conference of
Catholic Bishops (KCCB), the prelates note that their appeal comes in the wake
of reports on mismanagement of funds meant to contain the pandemic.
“As a Church, we appreciate several measures that have been
taken by the Government to contain the spreading of the pandemic in our
country. However, we are concerned about reports that some funds meant for the
pandemic containment have been misused,” reads the statement.
Increase of gender-based violence
Bishop John Oballa, Chairman of Catholic Justice and Peace
commission, who read the statement after a nationally televised Mass, also
noted that as the country intensifies its war on the pandemic, there has been an
increase in gender-based violence in society, as well as worsening conditions
for the most vulnerable, especially children, women and persons living with
disabilities.
“As your shepherds, we exhort parents to take extra care of
their children, including guarding them against harmful internet content,” he
said, and he called on married couples to cultivate “love, understanding,
respect and patience for each other, especially during this time of the
pandemic.”
Support for faith-based health-care facilities
As part of the commitment by religious leaders in fighting
Covid-19, Bishop Oballa appealed to the government to support faith-based
health-care facilities, most of which serve in remote areas and informal
settlements. He asked they be included in the distribution of Personal
Protective Equipment and that their healthcare workers be allowed to access
Government Covid-19 treatment and isolation facilities.
Finally, Bishop Oballa invited Kenyans to join in prayers
and solidarity with those on pandemic frontlines, especially medics who are
leading the war on coronavirus.
The KCCB has consistently been committed to the fight
against corruption. An initiative last October saw it launch a six-month
anti-corruption campaign that addresses responsible and sustainable farming,
youth and development, natural resource management, leadership and
accountability and the sanctity of life and human dignity.
In the 76-page campaign document, it is made clear that
corruption, which falls under leadership and accountability, is actually a
cross-cutting issue that touches on all the themes.
According to the latest statistics Kenya has 535
officially reported coronavirus cases, 24 deaths caused by the virus and 182
recovered patients.
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