Loyola Centre Leads Anti-Corruption Push with Governance Training in Kisumu

By Sr. Lydia – LCMC.

*CJPD leaders from Kisumu archdiocese pose for a photo at Ukweli Pastoral Centre with facilitators from Loyola Centre for Media and Communications*

The Loyola Centre for Media and Communication (LCMC) is taking the lead in reawakening the human conscience in addressing corruption, hosting a high-impact two-day governance workshop in Kisumu. In collaboration with the Archdiocese of Kisumu and backed by the Archbishop, Most Rev. Maurice Makumba Muhatia, the training forms part of the “Breaking the Chains of Corruption” campaign launched by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2019.

A survey conducted in Kisumu and Siaya counties as presented by Dennson Machuki of LCMC, indicate that there is low citizen participation in governance and budgetary process.

Held at the Ukweli Pastoral Centre on August 7 and 8, the workshop equips clergy, religious, and members of the Catholic Justice and Peace Department (CJPD) with practical skills in county budgeting, procurement management, Catholic Social Teaching (CST), and access to public information – tools that LCMC says are essential for promoting transparency, accountability, and active citizenship.

Fr. Odomaro Mubangizi, SJ facilitates a session on the Catholic Social Thought during the procurement training in Kisumu

A Strategic Step in the Fight Against Corruption

Participants welcomed the initiative as a critical move to strengthen openness within the Archdiocese and keep the Church at the forefront of anti-corruption advocacy.

“We need to get into the nitty-gritty since we do not have facts at the moment. Let’s go and start with the frog that is easy to hit,” one participant remarked, emphasizing the call for a targeted approach to tackling corruption.

They committed to implementing short-term work plans aimed at the larger goal of eradicating corruption from their communities.

Next Steps

Drawing on a case study from group discussions, participants agreed to meet with chaplains in their respective deaneries, share the training outcomes with CJPD officials, and trickle down the information to parishes, sub-parishes, and eventually small Christian communities.

Participants during group discussions

Hands-On Training for Accountability

Denson Machuki from LCMC presenting survey findings on procurement from Kisumu and Siaya Counties

Delegates came from parishes across the region, including Siaya, Kibuye, Ojola, Chiga, Nduru, Ugunja, Muhoroni, Mbaga, and Bondo among others. Also represented were key church groups such as the CJPD, Caritas, Young Christian Adults (YCA), Catholic Women Association (CWA), and Catholic Men Association (CMA).

Ms. Mariam Abdalla, a Director from TEAM guided participants through the county budgeting cycle and procurement processes, highlighting avenues for citizen engagement and red flags in tendering. Fr. Odomaro Mubangizi of the Society of Jesus unpacked Catholic Social Teaching principles on the dignity of the human person, the common good, subsidiarity, and the preferential option for the poor, linking them directly to civic responsibility and ethical governance. Amelia Otono, an advocate of the High Court, from the Office of the Ombudsman explained eloquently the constitutional right to access public information and how to leverage it to hold leaders accountable.

By the workshop’s conclusion, participants reported a sharper understanding of budget and procurement systems, greater confidence in applying CST to advocacy work, and increased awareness of legal avenues for demanding transparency.

Organizers plan follow-up sessions focused on budget monitoring tools and parish-level action plans, alongside deeper engagement with county government officials.

With LCMC driving the initiative and Archbishop Muhatia’s full backing, the workshop reaffirmed the Church’s mission as a moral guide and an active force for justice in Kenya and beyond.