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Catholic Activists Petition Kenyan Government to Revoke Christian Religious Book Promoting Contraception

Silas Isenjia

By Silas Isenjia

Nairobi, 19 August, 2025 / 8:51 pm (ACI Africa).

Members of CitizenGO Africa, a Catholic activist organization, are calling on Kenya’s Minister of Education to revoke the third edition of the new Christian Religious Education (CRE) Book Four that the Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB) published.

According to a Tuesday, August 19 petition, which the CitizenGo Campaigns Director for Africa and the United Nations, Ann Kioko, started, the textbook targeting Kenyan secondary schools has content that promote the use of contraceptives and other population control methods and a cause for concern because “it steps far beyond its purpose.”

“We are shocked to learn that a Kenyan school CRE textbook promotes contraception and population control methods to teenagers,” CitizenGo Africa members says in the petition, and explain, “Instead of focusing on biblical values, this book digs into ‘responsible parenthood’ in a deeply troubling way.”

The textbook, they go on to say, “defines contraception; lists natural and artificial methods; and it includes illustrations of condoms and hormone injections.”

They further explain that the content in the book is presented under the disguise of “population control,” adding that civil society groups, religious leaders, and parents are outraged.

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“CRE is supposed to guide students in morals and faith not to introduce them to contraception methods,” the Catholic activists lament, and warn, “If nothing is done, we’ll be teaching our teens population control as if it were gospel.”

The presence of the textbook in Kenyan secondary schools, the petition initiated by the  CitizenGo Campaigns Director for Africa indicates, “is a betrayal of Christian Religious Education’s true purpose, teaching values rooted in faith, not sexualizing children.”

They say that parents trust schools to uphold moral teaching for their children and not to undermine biblical principles or their authority at home, adding that content in the textbook “attacks our children’s innocence and our cultural values. Removing this book must happen now.”

“We urgently call on the Education Minister Julius Migos Ogamba to revoke this textbook from all schools immediately,” CitizenGo Africa members say, and add, “Let CRE return to its purpose: building character, faith, and responsibility—not promoting population control.”

They want immediate action to be taken to stop the circulation of the textbook especially as schools are about to reopen in Kenya. If not stopped, they warn, “Soon, these harmful books will flood classrooms again. Once students have access, the damage will be done.”

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 “We can’t allow our children to be sexualized or have their faith undermined by state-approved curriculum. The risk is too high,” the Catholic activists say in the August 19 petition, and add, “If you care about the future of your children, act now! Don’t let another school year begin with these values under attack.”

Members of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) have over the years expressed their strong opposition to attempts to introduce Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in schools aimed at controlling teenage pregnancies in the East African nation.

In 2023, the KCCB’s Commission for Education and Religious Education (CERE) department raised concerns over the introduction of sex education in Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) and called for the removal of such kind of education.

Silas Isenjia

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.

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