Ahead of National Prayer Day at Kenyan Marian Shrine, Catholic Archbishop Cautions Leaders against Political Utterances

“We are invited to unite at Subukia as one community, as people who are patriotic and who love our country, to bring our prayers on behalf of our nation,” the Catholic Archbishop said.

Archbishop Muheria emphasized that prayer remains a powerful act of hope for Kenya in the face of corruption, poverty, and despair.

“One thing that we can all do is to contribute through prayer. It is true there are so many problems, difficulties that have befallen us, sorrow, pain, hopelessness in this time for our country,” the Catholic Archbishop said.

He recalled past gatherings at Subukia, including the 2019 pilgrimage when Kenyans prayed against corruption that was “strangling the nation” under the theme, “Breaking the Chains of Corruption.” The Catholic Archbishop and urged citizens to renew their commitment to integrity, justice, and service in both public and private life.

“We could not breathe as Christians,” Archbishop Muheria said, describing the situation of the country before the 2019 pilgrimage at Subukia. 

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He explained, “We could not breathe as a country because of corruption that was choking us from within. We asked forgiveness from Almighty God, we removed our shoes, we prayed that God would have mercy on us, and each one of us even made a pledge before God that we would fight this corruption.”

He encouraged the people of God to return to Subukia to pray for their needs, saying, “Every time when we are overwhelmed by problems, when we are faced with difficulties, and even when there seems to be no solution, we are all invited to kneel down, to direct our hearts and minds to Almighty God. Let us pray to Him with great humility, and truly, we know He will listen to us.”

The Kenyan member of Opus Dei called upon those unable to attend in person, due to challenges such as illness, to “participate through television broadcasts.”

“We are all invited. Let us all come. The elderly, the weak, those blessed with wealth, the youth, the children. All are invited to go to the holy mountain. Let us all pray with one voice and one intention so that God may hear us, have mercy on us, bless our nation with unity, peace, understanding, and humility in leadership, for our country seems to have lost direction being led by pride and greed,” Archbishop Muheria said.

He went on to urge the Clergy and women and men Religious to ensure they participate in the pilgrimage for God to direct them in their apostolates.

“We, the leaders of the Church – Priests, Sisters, Brothers, and we Bishops – we will go there to ask God for courage so that we may not turn away from what God has called us to. And we must ask ourselves if we are fulfilling our responsibility and calling to lead the flock of the Lord along the paths of life and not along paths of confusion, falsehood, and lack of truth,’ he said.

Archbishop Muheria urged Subukia pilgrims to pray for their nation, noting that Kenya seems to be filled with “darkness”.

“We come to Subukia to dedicate our country under the protection of Mary, Mother of God. We will ask Mary to intercede for us before God and her Son Jesus, because it seems there is darkness, and we want God to send us light through Christ, who is the Light, the Truth,” he said.

He expressed optimism that Kenya would be blessed with leaders who have the people’s interests at heart, saying, “In leadership and politics, let it not be with lies, let it not be with arrogance that confuses people, but let it be firm with Christianity, filled with the spirit of the lowly.”

Meanwhile, Bishop Peter Kihara Kariuki of the Catholic Diocese of Marsabit has also called upon all Kenyans to pray for the country during the upcoming National Prayer Day.

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In a September 30 publication, Bishop Kihara says, “We would want many people to come together so that we raise our voice together to the Lord that He may show us His mercy  and blessing.”

“May the good Lord guide and protect the visitors who are going to share in this celebration,” the Local Ordinary of Marsabit implores.

Sabrine Amboka is a Kenyan journalist with a passion for Catholic church communication. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from St. Paul's University in Kenya.