Irresponsible Leaders Reflect Rot in Society, Kenyan Catholic Bishop on Choosing Good Leaders

Nairobi, 30 September, 2025 / 4:13 PM

Bishop Simon Peter Kamomoe has called on the people of God in Kenya to exercise responsibility in electing leaders, warning that a country’s poor leadership reflects the rot among the electorate.

In his Sunday, September 28 homily at the Family Day celebration of Kikuyu Deanery in the Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN), Bishop Kamomoe noted that Kenyans, especially the sick in hospitals where there are no essential services, are suffering owing to poor leadership of the country.

The Auxiliary Bishop of Kenya's Catholic Diocese of Wote, where he also serves as the Apostolic Administrator since September 21 however clarified that the blame does not lie entirely with leaders, but that the electorate are also at fault.

“People continue to die because of a lack of medicine, and a lot of suffering is there because there is a lot of foolishness in our country. Many leaders are not upright, and it is we Kenyans who elected them,” he said.

“I hear people complaining that leaders have done this and that, but ask yourself, who elected them?” Bishop Kamomoe said, and referring to social psychologists, continued, “People elect leaders who are like them.”

He emphasized the need for the electorate in the East African nation to change their ways so that they can elect responsible leaders who prioritize the common good of the people.

He said that leaders are a reflection of the minds and hearts of those who elect them, adding, “We chose people who are greedy because even we ourselves are greedy.”

“Let us pray for our country that God may remove that foolishness, so that we may persevere in doing things that are in accordance with the will of the Almighty God,” he said at the event that was held at St. Claire Girls’ Nembu grounds.

The Kenyan Catholic Church leader, who started his Episcopal ministry in April 2024 as one of the Auxiliary Bishops of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN) warned the people of God against greed, and urged them to emulate St. Vincent De Paul, the Patron Saint of Kikuyu Deanery. St. Vincent de Paul, he noted, recognized all he had belonged to God and shared with the poor.

“You share what you have because you are wise enough to know that everything you have is because of God. And when you are able, God will add you more and more graces because you acknowledge God, because you know that what you have comes from Him,” he said.

The Catholic Bishop called upon those who are blessed with means and resources to share with the poor without seeking recognition.  

“Let us pray that we share more and more, and let us not pity the poor but give them their right. To give to the poor is to give them their right, which is a right from God. That is why He will bless you because you are doing justice to others. Let us pray that we may be people of justice,” he said.

Bishop Kamomoe encouraged all Priests in Kenya to introduce St. Vincent DePaul programme in their Parishes to enable “Christians to share with the needy.”

In his September 28 homily, he reminded the Clergy that they are called to be “good shepherds” who guide people to God through worship, teaching, and spiritual direction.

Citing the Gospel message that “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few,” he expressed gratitude that in the Kikuyu Deanery, the faithful have access to the Eucharist in every outstation every Sunday, despite the need for more vocations to the Priesthood in the country.

The Catholic Church leader, however, urged Priests to reflect on their commitment to their vocation, stressing that the Priesthood is not about personal mission but the mission of Christ.

Bishop Kamomoe further appealed for prayers for more vocations, saying that the Church needs more Priests to shepherd the faithful in a world burdened by evil.

“The more evil we have, the more Priests we need to direct people to their God, because there are very many who need to be guided,” he said during the September 28 Holy Mass in which 20 couples renewed their marriage vows.

The Kenyan Catholic Bishop  expressed gratitude to God for the 20 couples and those in marriage, urging them to continue persevering with each other while embracing the Sacraments of the church, especially the Sacrament of Confession and the Eucharist.

“Couples, if you want to succeed in marriage, let us try very much the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Confession seriously. That is what will give you the grace to forgive one another and to persevere. Even if you are angered, when you go to confession, you will receive grace,” he said.

To the youths, Bishop Kamomoe encouraged them to seek partners who are both God fearing and humble, saying, “You cannot make it without God.”

Regarding marital challenges, he called on the youths to seek guidance from those celebrating Silver and Golden Jubilees in marriage, believing that their marriages thrive on God.

“There is no trouble-free marriage, but if we put God first and you are able to be a God-fearing wife, husband, mother, and a God-fearing father, you’ll make it. You persevere because you put your hope in God.

Bishop Kamomoe also encouraged the youths to emulate the older generation in their procreation role in marriage, claiming that most couples in the new generations only want one child.

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“Children are gifts from God, but as Paul has said, in this world full of evils, they do not see children as gifts; they see children as a burden. Marriage is a beautiful institution that was instituted by God Himself,” he said.

Bishop Kamomoe appealed, “Let us pray a lot to remove foolishness. God has called us, and if we remove foolishness, we will do the will of God, and we will be very blessed. Let us persevere in the Lord, and if it is to boast, let us boast in the Lord. Therefore, let us pray that God may bless our marriages, our families, and our children,” he added.