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Pope visit to Kenya: A changing role for a Catholic Church that avoids politics

Since the last papal visit in 1995, the Catholic Church has evolved into an institution that largely keeps silent about politics. But some say its critical voice is still needed.

As Pope Francis brings his message to Kenya this week, he is visiting a Roman Catholic Church whose role in society has shifted dramatically since the last papal visit.

Each of the three times Pope John Paul II came to Kenya 鈥� 1980, 1985, and 1995 鈥� the country was in the iron grip of President Daniel Arap Moi, who clamped down on free expression and criminalized opposition groups.聽

Under his 24-year rule, the Catholic Church, known as a steadfast provider of social services, became one of the only avenues for dissent. In May 1992, it even聽 at a time when speaking out against the president invited arrest and torture.聽

鈥淲hen the pope came that time, the church was very strongly political, it was walking hand in hand with opposition leaders,鈥� says Father Stephen Okello, a philosophy professor at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and the coordinator for the papal visit.

After Moi left office in 2002, the church鈥檚 former opposition allies became the new political elite, and the church emerged as a government ally. Now, two presidents and a new constitution later, Kenya has no shortage of avenues for civil dissent, and the Catholic Church is focused more on ideology and less on politics.

But some wish the church would raise its voice against Kenya's current problems, from corruption and poverty to ethnic strife and religious conflict, though聽local parishes have often played an important mediator role on the latter.

鈥淭he church is one of the few sort of independent centers of power. In the 90s, they could really bring the government to heel when they got their act together,鈥� says political commentator Patrick Gathara.

鈥淸Today] the divide between how the leaders live and the people is so stark. The Catholic Church here has been so silent about it. Compare it with how they were loud during Moi鈥檚 time in the 90s and sort of painted themselves as champions of the people. It鈥檚 remarkable how silent they鈥檝e been."

Readjusting roles

Of late, perhaps the most controversial thing the church has done is , saying the vaccine hadn't been properly tested. Some bishops speculated it was birth control in disguise.

But elsewhere in the region, the church continues to play a political role. In Burundi, plunged into a political crisis when President Pierre Nkurunziza ran for an unconstitutional third term in April, the Catholic Church has been a vocal opponent of Mr. Nkurunziza鈥檚 bid. In May it denounced his plans to hold a vote, withdrawing from the electoral commission and giving the political opposition a legitimacy boost.

And in Democratic Republic of Congo, which is also heading into a contentious election, the Catholic Church has supported protests against President Joseph Kabila鈥檚 own apparent bid to cling to power. In January, after Congolese security forces , leader Cardinal Monsengwo Pasinya issued a statement declaring 鈥淪top killing your people.鈥澛�

But in Kenya, the mantle as opposition voice has been passed on, says Father Okello. A new, much lauded 2010 constitution has devolved power and offered greater protection for human rights, emboldening civil society.

鈥淪ince we got the new constitution, a lot of freedom has been obtained, a lot of accountability. Even this frequent talk about corruption 鈥� it鈥檚 not that it鈥檚 gotten bigger or worse. There鈥檚 more accountability, more transparency for people to denounce these things,鈥� he says.

鈥淲hy the church doesn鈥檛 seem to be very vocal? The situation has changed quite a lot. There are so many other organizations that have also come up.鈥�