Deputy President Prof Kithure Kindiki has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working closely with religious institutions to promote social and economic development across the country.
Speaking during a fundraising event and the launch of community transformation programmes at the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Diocese of Nairobi in Ruai on Saturday 30th May, the Deputy President praised the church for its role in education, healthcare, youth empowerment and community welfare.
Prof. Kindiki said faith-based organizations remain critical partners in national development, noting that their contribution goes beyond spiritual guidance to improving the livelihoods of ordinary Kenyans.
“The Church plays an indispensable role in shaping moral values, strengthening families and promoting social cohesion. Kenya Kwanza Government will continue supporting institutions that work to uplift communities,” the Deputy President underlined.
The Deputy President, also, commended the ACK Diocese of Nairobi for initiating programmes aimed at social, economic and psychosocial transformation, saying such initiatives complement the government’s development programs like bottom up economic transformative agenda .
He urged religious leaders to continue guiding the nation on matters of morality, unity and mental well-being, especially among young people facing social and economic challenges.
Prof. Kindiki emphasized that sustainable development requires both physical infrastructure and strong moral foundations, adding that a prosperous nation must be built on values of hard work, patriotism and faith.
Church leaders who attended the event among them Nairobi region ACK Bishop Jonathan Kabiru thanked the government for its continued support and called for stronger collaboration in addressing poverty, unemployment and other challenges affecting communities.
Kabiru also urged churches to emulate them by coming up with psychosocial programs that have been very useful by offering mental health related counselling to youths and families affected by the mental problems and substance abuse
“Church is supposed to play a pivotal role in counselling this generation because lack of employment and some other family issues is what has caused even children setting up schools on fire and burning their fellow students
“As a church we are definitely worried and concerned about what is happening in our schools at this particular time.
One of the issues that could be a problem is the issues to do with mental health.As children or students approach exams we have a lot of anxiety,” Kabiru stated.
He also noted that some of students are going through trauma of different kinds in their lives and the need to enhance counselling programs in schools targeting candidates and those who are not candidates so that they can learn how to approach life with hope instead of being hopeless
Bishop noted some of these programs will help them deal with challenges of the day. Mental health issues is no longer something that we can hide ourselves from addressing
“As a diocese in Nairobi we have established that ministry that is to do with mental health and we hope that this can be advanced and that even the government can think through how do we ensure that every school in our country have counselling programme, they have mental health programmes to take care of our students, “he added
The fundraising event brought together worshippers, local leaders and residents from Ruai and surrounding areas, with funds raised expected to support church development projects and community outreach programmes.