NAIROBI JANUARY 16, 2015(CISA) –Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth has urged the government to create better strategies in handling high poverty rates in Kenya.
“I wish to challenge the government of Kenya to relook into the economic reforms and come up with strategies that seriously address poverty in Kenya”, said the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kisumu.
Delivering his key note address during the launch of the book “Paths of Development” at Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA) on January 15, in Nairobi, Archbishop Okoth advised the government that if it wants to address the issues of poverty, illiteracy and diseases it must work out policies and initiatives that carefully address the conditions that facilitate poverty in the country.
“It is impossible to ignore the problems that face us today concerning justice, liberation, development and peace in the world. Research in our lives brings ideas and new innovations so we should take the launching of the book as a sign of excellence and also as a challenge to do more research,” said Archbishop Okoth.
He reminded the Church to follow Christ’s example of helping others. “Caritas is the vital part of the church and without charity there is no church as the church is institutionalised with caritas.”
The prelate however noted that the families who have benefited from the caritas self help groups and government revolving funds have somehow helped in decreasing the number of school drop outs and assisted in improvement of medical care and facilities.
“How is our work changing lives of other people?” asked Archbishop Okoth.
The substance of economic reform programs are influenced by our national values and principles of government. Archbishop Okoth said: “Sharing, transparency, sustainable development and protection of the marginalised principles of the Article 10 requires the reform programs to benefit not only the rich and powerful but everyone.”
He concluded by stating that the common good requires sharing of values as well as blessing.
