Catholic launch anti corruption campaign.

Under the hilly landscape overlooking the fertile Subukia valley stands a towering white cross that welcomes visitors to the sacred grounds of National Marian Shrine of Kenya. The shrine, commonly known as, Subukia National Shrine stands on the Equator - the meeting point of the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

The shrine, which has attracted both Christians and non-Christians since it was started in 1985, is owned by the Kenya Episcopal Conference and managed by the Franciscan Friars.
Named by Cardinal Otunga.

The shrine was named the Village of Mary Mother of God in 1984 by the late Michael Cardinal Maurice Otunga and later before 2002 General Election the Archbishop Ndingi Mwanaa’Nzeki led two archbishops, hundreds of priests and faithful in praying for peace at the shrine, The fact that Subukia is geographically at the centre of Kenya makes it suitable for bringing together people from all parts of Kenya and beyond.

Reciting rosary

I join a group of pilgrims on a little climb up the hill. All the way, the pilgrims recited the rosary. As I was told, climbing up the hill symbolizes the way of the cross. It recounts the time Jesus carried the cross as he was taken for his crucifixion. This leads us to another chapel with a statue of Mary holding baby Jesus and the spring water that is believed to have miracle cures.

It is at this point when I realized that almost everyone who visited the place had a jerry can for carrying the "holy water."

According to the history of the shrine, the spring that is widely believed to produce water with healing powers started flowing since December 1991 and has since never dried up.

Spring water

The discovery of the spring has, however, been of great significance to the history of the shrine, with many believers taking it as a form of blessing. This explains why many pilgrims to this shrine fetch water from the spring. Many tourists and people from different religious denominations fetch the water believed to give both spiritual and physical healing.

Subukia compound

At the centre of the compound is a new church under construction, designed in the shape of the crown of Mary the mother of Jesus. It has 12 corners, symbolizing the 12 stars in Mary’s crown, and 12 pillars, symbolizing the 12 Apostles of Jesus. When it is completed, the church is expected to host more than 4,500 congregants.

At the foot of the hill is a big white cross that can be seen easily as one approaches  Subukia Valley. Buried at the foot of the cross is a piece of rock from the Grotto at Lourdes in France, a stone from River Jordan in Israel and another from the Marian Shrine at Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops Declaration

During this year Celebration Catholic Bishop announced that they will begin a nationwide anti-corruption campaign in Kenya, it will no longer accept large cash donations from politicians, and it will not allow political statements in church. These decisions were unveiled Saturday during a national prayer day at the Subukia Shrine in Nakuru County.

Politicians

The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) said it will not allow the church to be used as a political platform.“Politicians will not be allowed to address the congregation inside the church. The same will be restricted outside the church,” said KCCB chairman, Bishop Philip Anyolo. They added, “Political statements will not be allowed during the liturgical celebrations. The church has stopped accepting direct donations from the politicians. Contributions to fundraise for Catholic Church projects will be done via mobile money transfer or by cheques,” said the bishops’ statement.

Cashless donations

“We wish to move towards cashless donations and for the purpose of accountability, we shall declare in public the list and accounts of our projects and fundraising initiatives in our churches and institutions which will be open to public scrutiny,” said the bishops. The bishops promised to keep a record of any gifts exceeding Ksh50,000 ($500) to religious leaders in the church.

Reject graft

“We are calling upon all Kenyans to change their weird ways and reject corruption,” said the statement. “We have launched the campaign by removing our shoes in solidarity with those who have suffered and continue to suffer as a result of corruption,” said the bishops who called on Kenyans to be ready to pay the price of integrity. “We make this commitment to lead the fight against corruption. We call upon every Catholic in this country to take this desired decision to fight corruption for the sake of our society,”.