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FATHER OBALLA FINALLY ORDAINED BISHOP FOR NGONG DIOCESE
BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NGONG-KENYA
MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012
The long awaited ordination of Very Rev. Fr. John Oballa Owaa as the third Bishop of Ngong Catholic Church Diocese finally took place on Saturday April 14, 2012. It was attended by over 25,000 people, including about 2,000 priests and 4, 000 nuns, making it one of the biggest Episcopal ordinations in Kenya. All bishops including emeritus attended, apart from Joseph Mairura of Kisii Diocese.
John Cardinal Njue introduces newly ordained bishop John Oballa Owaa to the crowd-Njue has been the administrator for Ngong for about 3 years/ Photo by Fr Omolo Ouko, AJ
John Cardinal Njue of Nairobi Archdiocese who has also been the administrator of Ngong Diocese for about 3 years in his written sermon pleaded with Ngong Diocesan priests to collaborate well with their new bishop.
The majority of priests in Ngong are of the Kikuyu ethnic community, 1 Luo priest from Kilgoris, 2 from Moshi Diocese, Tanzania, and 3 from Kisii community, few Wakamba and about 3 from pure Maasai community. There are also missionary priests and religious men and women working in Ngong.
Map of Ngong Diocese
Nong Diocese is one of the largest dioceses in Kenya geographically-it transcends to Machakos diocese-it comprises of Counties, Kajiado and Narok/ File
Njue told Oballa to stand firm on matters of justice and peace, especially defending the rights of children, particularly molested children. He said Oballa should not be cowed in condemning impunity committed by public leaders, especially by politicians.
Area MP, Prof George Saitoti was the only politician present. Other politicians were not invited to avoid preaching seeds of division and hatred among ethnic communities in Kenya, especially through tribal associations such as Gema and Kamatusa.
Kakamega Bishop Philip Sulumenti seems to be telling Prof Saitoti to stand firm in his mission in preaching unity among Kenyans-Saitoti has refused to identify himself with tribal association, including G7, PNU Alliance, Gema and Kamatusa/ Photo by Fr Omolo Ouko, AJ
What has triggered debate among Catholic bishops is the surprise attendance of Bishop Cornelius Korir of Eldoret Diocese at the Eldoret meeting of members of the Kalenjin, Maasai, Turkana and Samburu (Kamatusa) communities to anoint Eldoret North MP William Ruto to run for president. Bishop Korir was among the bishops present during the ordination in Ngong.
Mr Ruto is accused at the ICC for crimes committed during the 2007/8 violence that claimed more than 1,300 lives and led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of others mainly from the Rift Valley of which Korir got the award for trying to unite and heal the tribes in the province.
Those who have condemned the meetings include Mombasa Catholic archbishop Boniface Lele, Mumias ACK bishop Beneah Salala and Kericho-based Segemik Parish priest Fr Ambrose Kimutai as well as Archbishop Ngede of Kisumu.
John Oballa Owaa was appointed as the third Bishop of Ngong by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI on January 7, 2012. He takes over from Bishop Cornelius Schilder, M.H.M who resigned in August 2009.
The first bishop of Ngong Diocese was Fr. Colin C. Davies ordained Bishop on February 27, 1977. He remained Bishop until his retirement at the required age of 75 years in 2002. Right Rev. Fr. Cornelius Schilder was appointed the second Bishop on November 23, 2002 and ordained on January 25, 2003.
Located in the Ecclesiastical province of Nairobi in Kenya, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ngong was established as Apostolic Prefecture of Ngong from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nairobi and Kisumu on October 20, 1959 and promoted as Diocese of Ngong on December 9, 1976.
The history of the Diocese dates back in 1913 when Catholic missionaries made exploratory expeditions into the region and made Kilgoris their permanent residence in 1955. This resulted in the establishment of The Prefecture Apostolic of Ngong on October 20, 1959. The Prefecture was entrusted to the Mill Hill Missionary Society.
Archbishop Okoth terms the naming of Oballa as the Bishop of Ngong as a blessing to Kisumu Archdiocese. This is because one of its first Missionary priests, Monsignor John. de Reeper who was the first Prefect Apostolic of Ngong appointed in January 1960 was named Bishop of Kisumu in January 1964. He is the one who ordained Fr Zacchaeus Okoth who is the current Archbishop of Kisumu.
Bishop de Reeper the first bishop of Kisumu Diocese-he was named bishop of Kisumu in January 1964-1976
On July 22, 1964 Fr. Colin C. Davies was appointed to succeed Monsignor de Reeper as Prefect Apostolic until his was appointment as Bishop of Ngong on December 15, 1976. Reeper was among the first four Missionary priests appointed for Ngong Diocese.
There are 29 parishes in Ngong Diocese and one Sub-Parish of St Lwanga Nkoroi. They are classified in four Clusters, namely Ngong Development Cluster made up of 13 parishes (zones) namely; Ngong, Matasia, Noonkopirr, Matasia, Embulbul,Ewuaso O Kidong'i, Ong'ata Rongai, Nkoroi, Kiserian, Magadi, Kajiado, Namanga and Kandisi with its headquarter in Kiserian Parish which was established in 1956. The Cluster also hosts the Diocesan Secretariat at Bishop's house. It has a population of 274,958 according to the 1999 national population census.
Narok Development Cluster is made up of Narok, Nairragie Enkare, Ololulung'a, Mulot, Lemek, Oloikirikirai, Naroosura and Entasekera parishes with its headquarter in Narok parish where a mission house and community outreach was established in 1960. Presently, population is estimated at 365,750 residents, mainly Maasai.
Kilgoris Development Cluster is located in the western end of the Diocese and comprise of Kilgoris, Abossi and Lolgorien parishes. Kilgoris is where the first missionary house and community outreach in Catholic Diocese of Ngong was established in 1955. The population according to 1999 national census is 70,591 persons, predominantly Maasai.
Loitokitok Development Cluster was founded in 1970. The church first established a house at Rombo mission in 1962. The constituent parishes includes: Sultan Hamud, Lenkisem and Mashuru.
According to the 1999 population and housing census, the area has an estimated population of 131,296 persons, predominantly Maasai. This area is the home of Amboselli Game Reserve at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro, and home to some of the largest elephant herds in the world.
These Parishes are fully run by either two priests or in other cases one. Among the oldest parishes are Kilgoris, Ngong, Rombo, Narok, Kiserian,Kajiado, Loitokitok, Nairagie Enkare, Namanga, Mulot, Lemek, Entasekera, Ongata Rongai , Magadi ,Olooikirikirai, Abosi and Lolgorian.
Discussions are underway to split some of our bigger parishes into three or four parishes. These include Oloikirikirai and Kiserian. The Diocese of Ngong has two vicars general one to assist the Bishop in matters pertaining to finances, and the other in pastoral matters.
The Diocese covers an area of 47,000 square kilometres, a population of approx. 1,011,000 people, Catholics 83,247, 29 parishes, 53 priests (39 diocesan and 14 religious), 40 religious brothers, 143 sisters and 19 seminarians.
Some of the challenges in Ngong Diocese include frequent droughts, human-wildlife conflicts, food insecurity, water scarcity, environmental degradation, and inter-ethnic conflict, especially in Kilgoris which for a long time has been known as one of the areas with conflict hot spots in Kenya.
The main causes of the disputes are over land and boundaries, cattle theft, grazing land disputes, access to water points and tribal clashes/differences between the Maasai clans over access and control of resources.
Demographically, two main communities occupy the
district, the Maasai and Kipsigis. The Kuria community borders the Maasai on
the South Western part and is as well settled in a number of administrative
locations within Transmara district.
Persistence of conflicts in the area has always slackened growth and
development of the area over the years, owing to the fact that peace is a
prerequisite for successful development.
Kilgoris is one of the hottest constituencies in Kenya.It en campuses Trans Mara West and Transmara East Districts. The constituency was established for the 1997 elections and it has 22 wards, all electing councilors for the Trans Mara County Council. It has 70,294 registered voters in the 22 elective wards; namely: Kapsasian, Masurura, Mogondo, Ilkerin, Emurua Dikirr, Moyoi, Shartuka, and Emarti.
Others include Kapune, Njipship, Nkararu, Shankoe, Ololmasani, Ololchani, Kimintet, Oloerien, Angata Barrikoi, Olomismis, Poriko, Enosaen, Osinoni and Sikawa. The current MP is Mr. Gideon Sitelu Konchella who was elected on the PNU ticket after the by-elections held in 2008.
It is mainly occupied by the Maasai and the Kipsigis Community whose voter distribution is on 50-50 basis. The two communities are always in a supremacy war politically. The Maasai see the Kipsigis as Immigrant community and have always vowed never to let a Kipsigis be the area MP.
In Narok the challenge is the Mau Forest, the largest water tower in the country whose existence is under serious threat from squatters. Various attempts by several agencies in the district have been made to contain the conflict situation but only little success has been achieved.
John Oballa Owaa was born on 28 August, 1958 at Ahero, Nyando District, Kenya. He was ordained a priest of Arch-Diocese, Kenya on 28 August, 1986 on his 28th birthday.
He studied in Kenya at St. Augustine Senior Seminary, Mabanga from 1980 to 1982 and St. Thomas Aquinas National Major Seminary, Nairobi from 1982 to 1986.
After his ordination he worked at St. Theresa’s Kibuye Cathedral and Barkorwa Catholic Church. From 1998 to 2010 he was appointed Parish Priest of Ojolla upon his return to Kenya, from Rome where he studied and obtained a Licentiate and PhD in Canon Law at the Pontifical Urban University. In Rome he also worked as an official of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care, from 1995 to 1997.
From 1999 to 2001 he also served as the Secretary and Director of Finance of the Archdiocese of Kisumu. In 2004 he was appointed General Vicar of the Archdiocese of Kisumu. In January 2010 he was appointed Rector of St. Thomas National Aquinas.
In January 2012 Pope Benedict XVI has appointed entrusted to him the pastoral care of the Diocese of Ngong
Bishop Owaa has up to this date had been the Rector of St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Nairobi, Kenya. He was ordained a priest of Kisumu (Arch-Diocese), Kenya on the 28th August, 1986 by Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth.
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BEYOND SOVEREIGNTY ISSUE FOR GLOBAL AGENDA
REVIEWED BY JOSEPH ADERO NGALA
AUTHOR-MARYANN CUSIMANO LOVE
NAIROBI-KENYA
TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2012
The years 2002 has been something of a revival of interest in Africa, at least in official circles in Britain. After roughly two decades during which Africa fate-the odd famine or natural disaster aside-was largely relegated to the bottom of white halls in tray, the issue has now found itself towards the top.
As a journalist who has covered Africa for three decades l do understand the implications and my role of reporting human tragedies- without rhetoric or rancor. Beyond Sovereignty issue for Global agenda has mixed political insight with personal testimony to create a powerful book-compelling.
In Africa politicians like to talk vaguely about global village, but if foreign policy is to be ethical as well as effective, it will have to recognize that conflict resolution entails more than getting two sides around a table in Africa, there has to be an acknowledgment that although African are primarily to blame for the decrepit state of their continent, the rich world has to shoulder its share of the blame.
In the decades since decolonization, Africa has been ill-served by those who claimed to be friends- too often policy has been driven by a competition between various powerful nations over the continents vast resources. We have argued for free trade what we really meant was that to restrict their export to us.
Instead of extending the ideas of social justice that we take for granted, we have all too often, allowed our companies to deny Africans those very standards; how fair is it that a cocoa farmer in Ghana should get less than one penny from the proceeds of a bar of chocolate that sells for 90pence in Britain? Why did it take a court battle in South Africa in 2001 to pursue, the great pharmaceutical business that some people simply couldn't afford their AIDS drugs
In the aftermath of September 11 people were fond of saying that the ’world has changed' that life would never be the same again. What they meant, of course, was that life in the rich world, and especially in America, had changed.
In the poor world nothing much had changed at all-except that many more of their citizens seen as potential terrorists. Very quickly, Somali found itself on the list of those deemed to pose a threat to Americans security-this is the country that USA backed in the cold war and then tried to save from famine in 1992.
The point is this; the world should change after September 11, but not simply in the way people suggested at the time of the attacks. if leaders like from UK prime minister remain true to their words, then over the next forty years Africa might well look very different from the way l have had to portray it during the last fifty years.
My intention was to review a well documented book by Maryann Cusimano Love Beyond Sovereignty issues for Global Agenda is a book that one must have it well written it articulates views from different scholars and its has also paid special attention to the works of Jesuits refugees and its has many ideas.
She addressed heavy issues on the global economic meltdown, terrorist attacks, environmental problems, disease pandemics, refugee flows, drug and human trafficking, resurgent religion, cyberattacks, weapons of mass destruction-the news headlines and policy makers are consumed these pressing global concerns.
But none of these she writers is important global issues are captured by the traditional view of international relations as the activities of state. People are dying, but states cannot save them. She also maintains in the book that the strongest states in the system cannot solve these failed these problems alone; their institutions are not wired for it, and they are scrambling to come up with effective responses.
Maryann Cusimano Love maintains in the book that a third of the people on the planet live in the weakest states in the system. These failed and falling states as she puts it cannot provide roads and drinking water, basic law, order, and governance.
The citizens are the most vulnerable, yet these states are what she calls kleptrocract leaders that treat the government as ATM Machines used for personal enrichment. Half the people in the planet live without freedoms (in both "strong and 'week "states) their governments deny them the abilities to hold their government accountable for the activities undertaken in their name.
The worst of these states are predatory, deliberately killing the very citizens they are supposed to protect. Sovereignty-the ideas that governance aligns with territory, and that those outside the geographic boundaries have no authority to meddle in internal affairs-is not neutral or theoretical or theoretical or helpful for most of the people on the planet.
For example, nearly 6 million people have died in the Congo, as many Jews as died in the holocaust, in a conflict driven by failed sovereignty, the quest to control natural resources to sell to the lucrative global market.
Dr. Maryann Cusimano Love is a tenured Associate Professor of International Relations in the Politics Department of The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. She is on the Core Group for the Department of State's working group on Religion and Foreign Policy, charged with making recommendations to the Secretary of State and the Federal Advisory Commission on how the US government can better engage with civil society and religious actors in foreign policy.
She served as a Fellow at the Commission on International Religious Freedom, where she is working with the Foreign Service Institute in creating new training and education materials on religion and foreign policy. ,
She teaches graduate and undergraduate International Relations courses at Catholic University and the Pentagon, such as Security, Peace Studies, Just Peace, U.S. Foreign Policy, Terrorism, Globalization, and The Problem of Sovereignty.
Her recent International Relations books include Beyond Sovereignty: Issues for a Global Agenda (4th Edition, 2011), Morality Matters: Ethics and the War on Terrorism (forthcoming at Cornell University Press), "What Kind of Peace Do We Seek?" a book chapter on Peacebuilding, in Notre Dame University's volume on The Ethics and Theology of Peacebuilding (Orbis 2011), "The Church and Global Governance" chapter for a Vatican book volume on Pacem in Terris, and "Women, Religion, and Peace" chapter for a U.S. Institute of Peace book Exploring the Invisible.
She serves on: the U.S. Catholic Bishops' International Justice and Peace Committee, where she advises the bishops on international affairs and U.S. foreign policy, and engages in advocacy with the U.S. government; the Advisory Board of the Catholic Peacebuilding Network, a network of practitioners, academics, clergy, and laity from around the world in the field of Catholic Peacebuilding; the board and Communications Committee of Jesuit Refugee Services, an international refugee relief and advocacy group active in over 60 countries.
An alumna of the Johns Hopkins University (PhD), the University of Texas at Austin (MA), and St. Joseph's University in Philadelpha (BA), Dr Cusimano Love is a frequent speaker on international affairs issues, as when she spoke on Religious Peacebuilding at the Vatican and at the United Nations.
She is a columnist for America magazine and a recipient of the 2009 Best Columnist Catholic Press Award. As a former Pew Faculty Fellow and a current consultant for Georgetown's Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Dr. Love regularly gives faculty development workshops on religion and world politics, and case and participatory teaching techniques.
Dr. Maryann Cusimano Love lives on the Chesapeake Bay outside of Washington, DC, with her husband Richard and three young children, Maria, Ricky, and Ava, who inspired her New York Times best-selling children's books, You Are My I Love You, You Are My Miracle, You Are My Wish, You Are My Wonders, and Sleep, Baby, Sleep.
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WHY DIALOGUE MAY NOT END HEGLIG OIL FIELD CONFLICT
BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAIROBI-KENYA
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012
On Sunday the Arch Bishop of Juba Diocese, Rt. Rev. Paulino Lokudu Loro read out a statement of the Roman Catholic Church Bishops on the current borders war on the Heglig oil field, calling for dialogue as the only option to resolve the two nation’s conflicts.
This photo of Saturday, April 14, 2012, shows the aftermath of a bombing by the Sudanese Air Force in Bentiu, South Sudan. Two Sukhoi jet fighters dropped 6 bombs in the area, killing 5 and wounding 4 others -The road to Heglig, an oil town that South Sudan and Sudan are fighting over, is lined with discarded furniture, destroyed buses and tanks, and clusters of dead Sudanese soldiers- (AP Photo/Michael Onyiego)
The Archbishop who read the statement on Sunday April 15, 2012 at St. Theresa Cathedral- Kator in Juba during the celebration for Silver as well as Golden Jubilee for four Sacred Heart of Jesus' Sisters and for profession of a final vow for one Sister, while calling the on-going war as shameful and condemning what Juba and Khartoum are doing to take the two nations encouraged the international community not to give up in helping the two countries achieve a lasting peace and good neighborhood.
There are several reasons why dialogue at this point may not work- one reason being that Khartoum parliament has already branded the government of South Sudan an enemy after southern troops invaded the north’s main oilfield.
The unanimous parliamentary vote on Monday came as South Sudan in turn accused Khartoum of fresh airstrikes that killed 10 civilians and also hit a United Nations peacekeeping camp.
The fact that until April 8, Heglig was firmly under Khartoum's control, and that a 2009 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling had removed it from the disputed Abyei region and placed it in South Kordofan in Sudan is another reason why north may not easily surrender it to south. The oil field provides more than half of Sudan's oil.
Heglig (also spelled Heglieg) is a disputed small town in South Kordofan state in Sudan, claimed by South Sudan as a part of Warrap. The area was contested during the Sudanese Civil War- captured again in mid April 2012 by South Sudanese army (BBC)
Heglig is the Arabic name of the "desert date", a fruit of the Balanites aegyptiaca tree which is found in the Middle East and Africa. The Sudanese Muslim sufies use the Heglig (lalob) seeds to make rosaries. The town is situated within the Muglag Basin, a rift basin which contains much of Sudan's proven oil reserves. It is connected to Khartoum and Port Sudan via the Greater Nile Oil Pipeline.
South Sudan cannot give it back on the basis of the ruling since the court's decision cannot be interpreted as the right for Sudan to own Heglig as the official demarcation of the international border is yet to be agreed following South Sudan's secession last July.
Since several international bodies have condemned South Sudan for taking control of Heglig, with the African Union's Peace and Security Council calling it an "illegal occupation", suggesting it is accepted fairly widely internationally that Heglig is part of Sudan, is another reason why dialogue without one party accepting liability won’t solve the problem.
Again that Khartoum has vowed to use "all means" to recapture Heglig which used to provide more than half of Sudan's oil, is internationally accepted to be part of Sudanese territory - although the border area is yet to be demarcated is another reason.
While the African Union has demanded South Sudan's unconditional withdrawal from Heglig, calling its occupation "illegal and unacceptable, the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, has said he will not withdraw his troops from the Heglig oilfield on its disputed border with Sudan. It is against the background an immediate" ceasefire is almost impossible.
Speaking in parliament, Mr Kiir defied calls from the UN and African Union to pull out troops, after three days of clashes with Khartoum. The fighting is the worst since South Sudan gained independence last July.
South Sudan cannot also allow the sharing of resources, especially oil with the North since it is now independent state. It is to be noted that sharing of the oil is one of the root causes of the 23 years of war in Sudan.
Another reason is that, the fact that Sudan has categorically denied having any links to the bombing of the UN compound, an attack condemned by the United States on the seventh day of the most severe border fighting since South Sudan separated last July makes the matter more complicated.
South Sudan has never been at peace since July 9, 2011 when it was declared independence, seceding from Sudan. Several violent conflicts flared immediately, including continued conflict in Darfur and in the three border states of Abyei, Southern Kordofan, and Blue Nile.
Although South Kordofan is north of the international border separating Sudan and South Sudan, many of its residents (particularly in the Nuba Mountains) identify with the South. South Kordofan was not allowed to participate in the January 2011 referendum to create South Sudan, and the "popular consultation" process they were promised also failed to take place.
SPLM-N rebels in South Kordofan claimed the military was deliberately destroying crops and farms belonging to the Nuba people in an attempt to starve the state into submission.
Yet without oil north is financial disabled. Currently Sudan has a severe external debt burden. The country has not serviced the majority of its external debt since the early 1990s.The United States alone accounts for $2.2 billion, of which $2.0 billion is in arrears.
North loss of an estimated output of 350,000 barrels of oil per day with South Sudan seceded in July last year can explain why Khartoum will ensure to fight until the last bullet to take some of the oil fields.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO FATHER JOHN WEBOOTSA
REGIONAL NEWS TEAM
NAIROBI-KENYA
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012
On my own behalf (Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ) and Regional News Team, People for Peace in Africa staff, I would like to congratulate Rev Fr John Webootsa, a Consolata Missionary for having been awarded Peace Prize for having devoted his life to help improve the living conditions of slum dwellers in Nairobi’s Korogocho and Dandora settlements.
Father John (left) leading a walk for peace in Nairobi's Korogocho slum
Father Webootsa has been named the inaugural winner of the Franco-German Human
Rights Award. In August 2011 he set up kitty fund that has so far disbursed
micro-loans of Sh20, 000 each to more than 300 people, mostly women and youth
to set up small businesses such as groceries, hair salons and kiosks.
According to Business News the community business start-up fund is funded by Concern Worldwide, Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) and the German Catholic Organisation and is aimed at providing alternatives to vulnerable groups not to engage in social ills such as drug abuse, criminal activities and prostitution.
The Mombasa-born priest is also involved in an environmental project dubbed Stop Dumping Death on Us which successfully lobbied the City Council of Nairobi to immediately decommission the three decade old Dandora dump site and its transfer to a non-residential area where only non-recyclable waste will be dumped.
Father Webootsa is only 37 year-old and not even Monsignor yet but has been honoured for his multiple community based projects that include setting up a communal kitty to advance micro-loans as capital to women and youth to set up small businesses, establishing a primary school and a medical dispensary to educate and provide healthcare to the community in Korogocho.
We also extend our gratitude to the French and German embassies in Kenya for their motivation meant to reward outstanding persons who are involved in programs that help empower grassroots and marginalised communities attain a better quality of life as well as promote social justice.
It is indeed gives Father Webootsa the will to soldier on as he looks forward to helping the slum dwellers even further.
According to the report the awards jury was composed of both the French and German envoys to Kenya, legislator Gitobu Imanyara, veteran journalist Hassan Kulundu of the Kenya Editors’ Guild, chairperson of the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) Tecla Namachanja, former chairman of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights commissioner and the late Mrs Mary Onyango who was the deputy chair of the National Commission on Integration and Cohesion.
“Father John is very determined and has a strong will. He has been mugged five times but he never thought of quitting his job in Korogocho. His commitment to the people of Korogocho is selfless,” reads the citation from the jury.
Father John helped set up St. John's Nursery and
Informal School which provides education
opportunities to 850 pupils who only pay Sh250 as school fees per month, but
three quarters of the learners are on full scholarship as their parents cannot
afford the subsidised fees.
The clergyman has also been vocal on the subject of extra judicial killings, speaking out against the dumping of murder victims at the Dandora dumpsite where he says they retrieved about 25 bodies in 2007/2008.
Ordained in June 2002 after his priesthood studies at Kenya’s Consolata Seminary, Uganda Martyrs Seminary, Namugongo, and finally in Lima, Peru; he thereafter moved to work as a priest at St John’s Church in Korogocho parish where he founded Kutoka Network, a voluntary initiative of 26 slum based parishes and interested parties who work with communities living in various informal settlements in Nairobi.
He first visited Korogocho in 1993 and was touched by the conditions there. While studying in Peru, he volunteered in Phorrilloa, a big slum in the capital Lima. His heart has always been to work to uplift people in the slums.
The non-monetary award comes with a one week fully paid up trip to France and Germany to meet stakeholders and institutions operating in the field of human rights such as the European Court for Human Rights and the German Institute for Human Rights.