“Very worrying”: Catholic Bishop in Kenya on Violence in Families, Urges Love, Respect

“Some 500 Kenyan women were murdered between 2017 and 2024,” the report indicates, citing investigations by Africa Uncensored and Africa Data Hub.

The January 27 Aljazeera report also cites Usikimye, a nonprofit entity that runs a helpline for female survivors of violence, indicating that the Kenyan organization “receives more than 150 calls daily, including from people who refer to a third party suffering abuse.”

“A 2022 national survey also found that about a third of Kenyan females – some nine million women – have experienced some form of physical violence,” the report indicates.

In January 2024, at least 10 women in the East African nation were reportedly killed, including 20-year-old student Rita Waeni and Starlet Wahu, the 26-year-old socialite.

In the February 6 interview with ACI Africa, the Catholic Bishop of Kitui, who doubles as the Chairman of the Commission for Pastoral and Lay Apostolate of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops condemned femicide.

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He said, “We have to respect life. Thou shalt not kill. People are supposed to live from conception to natural death.”

Bishop Mwongela went on to criticize manipulations around money, and young girls' desire for expensive lifestyles. He said, “We are seeing a lot of wooing of young girls by people who are unknown to them. The trigger used is the promise of money, love; girls want to live to high standards.”

The Kenyan Catholic Bishop, who has been at the helm of Kitui Diocese since his Episcopal Consecration in August 2020 cautioned against naivety, demonstrated in trusting strangers so easily, which he said is “bringing problems”.

“Sometimes girls who are empowered assert themselves and men feel threatened and a lot of violence comes in,” he further said, adding, “It is a cultural problem that needs to be fought; you don’t have to be violent for a woman to submit.” 

Bishop Mwongela emphasized the need to foster love and friendship in relationships. He said, “We need to know how we can be friends no matter the level of respect for each other. We must grow in love.”

“For those people who are preparing for marriage, those in marriage, trust and forgive each other. Learn to love and also keep the promises. If you tell somebody you love them, keep the promise,” Bishop Mwongela said during the February 6 interview with ACI Africa.

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.