A Kenya Experience

The long intercontinental AirMalta /KLM flights from Malta to Nairobi via Amsterdam were smooth and relatively comfortable . I had ample time to read and reflect on what  could be in  store for me during the next ten days.  Fr. Denis Mason, Prior of the Community and Bro.Henry, a professed student welcomed me at the airport and we proceeded to our Augustinian  House for the Professed in the Langata area of Nairobi .

I was rather apprehensive whether all the material I had prepared on the Social Doctrine of the Church , the U.N. and the Augustinian Perspective would go down well with students coming from a different cultural and educational background.  The students/professed are all in their final theological studies for the priesthood and come from Kenya and DRCongo. They all come from different experiences of broken human rights, violence and poverty in their own communities and were eager to find out how many documents, encyclicals and human rights charters could be concretely applied in their own various situations of healing and hope.


I realized that there was no better way of communicating a positive message on the subject than starting to narrate my own pastoral story and experience in Malta, both in the field of sports, with my great passion for football and as a TV sports commentator for 20 years, as well as my most recent venture of the Millennium Chapel and WOW  The DVD of the Millennium Chapel was a personal introduction to the course. The course itself took the form of three powerpoint presentations on the social doctrine of the church each day, brushing through the ten main encyclicals of the Popes starting with Rerum Novarum of Leo XIII and ending up with the most recent document of Benedict XVI Caritas in Veritate. The last presentation dealt with the Doctrine of St. Augustine on Poverty and Social Justice.


The source of this most valuable treasure of the Church Doctrine came from the Holy Scripture applied to the signs of the times by the Church.  The short time available did not allow us to go deep into the message of each one of these documents.  An innovative way of understanding the message better, however, was used by the showing of a movie in the afternoon/evening relating to the human rights or other social aspect that was presented in the morning.  Therefore, great films like, La Vita e’ Bella of Roberto Benigni (Life is Beautiful), Chocolat of Juliette Binoche, I know I am not alone (a UN Documentary) , The Diary of Immaculee, Chariots of Fire and others were watched and discussed so that the students would understand how the social doctrine of the Church and the Human Rights Charter of the UN could be  applied and lived in real life.


The first weekend brought a buzz of its own kind. First,  there was the long six hour car trip to the semi-arid land of Ishiara in the Embu Region  led by a very good driver,  Fr.Bob. .  The last kilometers  of the journey in the dark and on a dirt road , however, were a nightmare. It reminded me of the bumping car fights we used to have in the fun park when I was a little younger!!.  With the difference that I was not enjoying this at all as I was afraid that I might feel sick. Luckily we arrived tired safely and exhausted but felt most welcome by our Augustinian Confreres there, Fr. David and the others.


The Parish is located in marginal agro-ecological zones where rainfall does not amount to more than 500mm per annum. The community is predominantly rural and of a pastoral-agricultural nature.  The area has also been affected by the HIV/Aids scourge.  This has led therefore to the soaring number of orphans who are left alone with no one to take care of them and their basic needs especially in education.  There is also the problem of stigma on the people affected who very often suffer and die in silence.


The next day, I met the lady President of the St. Rita Group full of the Augustinian spirit and proud of the work they are doing together , and then  I was shown around by Peter, the J & P Promoter of the community.


Back in Nairobi and on the Sunday, July 19th,  there came also the first experience of celebrating Mass with the people in their own Swahili language at our Parish Church in Babadogo.  I was fascinated by the warm welcome of the people who including many children, want to shake hands with you wearing a big smile and then the active participation of men, women and children in the singing, dancing and praying that went on forthe next two hours.  Pity that the long homily broke the rhythm and the harmony of the liturgical celebration although I must admit that the congregation stood in silent and reverential attention all the time. Sunday Mass is the focal meeting for the community who have to walk long kilometres through soil and dusty roads to reach the Parish and remain  there for the rest of the day, sharing the little food available together . I was  very much impressed during the offertory procession, when food, vegetables and fruit together with the bread and wine was brought up .to the altar to be given to the poorest of the poor!

The following Monday and Tuesday were given over to the course with the Augustinian students. Then on Tuesday evening July 20th  I had my first experience of a domestic flight which went very well.

Kisumu is a  50minute. flight from Nairobi. On arrival at the airport I was met by Fr. Jacob Ariek . There was no room where to sleep at our house and so I took refuge for the night in a nearby retreat house of a religious congregation in the middle of the rural area of the village .  The next day I was picked up to go in a jeep on rough soil roads into the heart of the village where I met two active groups of the Parish, St. Monica Widows & Orphans Group and Jupere- Justice and Peace reconciliation Project. . The warm welcome  was demonstrated by an impromptu dance and Swahili singing of the St. Monica Widow Group.  This group is actively involved in supporting the many widows who live alone with their children and who are often victims of the traditional way of widow inheritance often leaving widows victims of  HIV/Aids  and also penniless.


The group encourages widows to remain single after the death of their husbands, to persevere in taking care of their orphaned children, and to fight against a tradition that goes against their human rights. I was honoured to be invited to visit three homes of these poor widows who live in the lowest conditions of survival.  They are clean one or maximum two room huts made of soil where a widow with 3 or more children has to live. 


Thursday 23nd. July was meant to be my rest day.  But it turned out to be quite packed with action and excitement.  It began with a very early trip across town as Fr. Denis and I negotiated the famous Nairobi morning traffic.  At Sacred Heart Primary School we distributed numerous sports shirts, shorts and shoes.  The children were delirious with delight.  Then on to Blessed Teresa High School closeby where I celebrated Mass for the students and staff... The boys and girls were resplendent in their bright blue and white  uniforms.  The Mass was lively and bouncy as they danced and sang their hearts out.  After Mass a group of students put up a special dance performance as I merrily clicked my camera.  This school is a lay person based intitiative that has been very generously supported by the Millennium Chapel Community of Malta.

Kenya is still under shock of the violence that erupted soon after the 2007 general elections that left 1,133 dead and more than 650,000 displaced..  High profile politicians are accused of inciting youths to loot, destroy property and perform other violent actions against their opponents. The Youths of the Parish in Kisumu that was deeply involved in this violence got together under the name of JUPERE and promised to work together for peace, justice and reconciliation in the community especially with young people.  
As a member of the UN team working as an NGO representing the Order of St. Augustine there was no better way of seeing with my own eyes the state of human rights, the search for attainment of the Millennium Development goals and other UN projects in action in our small communities. These communities are alive with the enthusiasm of young and not so young Augustinian priests who act as mentors of projects that give hope and dignity to the people they serve and who form part of their communities.


Hilary Tagliaferro OSA

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