# Kenyan Bishop Calls for Church to Engage in Community Struggles

> Bishop John Oballa Owaa urges the Church to get hands dirty in Kenya's poverty and youth crises.
- Title: Kenyan Bishop Calls for Church to Engage in Community…
- Summary: Bishop John Oballa Owaa urges the Church to get hands dirty in Kenya's poverty and youth crises. Bishop John Oballa Owaa of the Diocese of Ngong says the…
- Keywords: kenya, bishop john oballa owaa, diocese of ngong, tone la maji, youth crisis, poverty, unemployment, catholic church, religion, world, Kenyan, Bishop
- Source: Vaticannews — https://vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2026-10/kenya-bishop-ngong-church-involved-peoples-lives.html
- Author: Vatican News
- Published: 2026-10-06T06:52:08.963+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: kenya, bishop john oballa owaa, diocese of ngong, tone la maji, youth crisis, poverty, unemployment, catholic church, religion, world
## Bishop John Oballa Owaa
Bishop John Oballa Owaa of the Diocese of Ngong, Kenya, speaks candidly about the Church's role in addressing poverty and youth struggles.
## Diocese of Ngong
The Diocese of Ngong spans 39,000 square kilometers and serves 2.2 million people with only 15 percent Catholic.
## Tone la Maji Center
Tone la Maji, a center for street children and youth run by the Koinonia Community, provides support in the Diocese of Ngong.
## Bishop's Call to Action
Bishop Oballa Owaa says the Church must get hands dirty for the good of brothers and sisters, in the face of people's real-life struggles.

> We must get our hands dirty for the good of our brothers and sisters, for the love of God, and in the face of people's real-life struggles.
## Youth Crisis in Kenya
Many young Kenyans face unemployment, violence, and are used as political agitators with limited opportunities to pursue careers.
## Church's Role in Youth
Bishop Oballa Owaa emphasizes training young people to evangelize peers and find mentors to address identity crises.

> For us, it is not just about accompanying these young people, we must train them to evangelize their peers and find people who can serve as their mentors.
## Church Addresses Injustice
The Church provides food, financial aid, mental health support, and deploys staff to address injustice in Kenya's communities.

> We cannot isolate ourselves from the suffering of our brothers and sisters.
## Key takeaway

Bishop John Oballa Owaa of the Diocese of Ngong says the Church must actively address poverty, unemployment, and youth struggles in Kenya rather than staying aloof.