'They are ordinary people, like you and me, who are dying'

With almost 40 years experience working in Africa, Monsignor John Roche is better qualified than most to point out the roots of some of the continent's biggest problems. Based in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya since 2008, the Kiltegan missionary priest has listened in horror in recent months to fellow priests telling of the drought ravaged east of the country, where thousands of Somalis streaming in as result of famine in their own homeland has worsened an already serious humanitarian crisis. "Kenya is really struggling to care for the people. I heard recently of a refugee camp in the east of the country built for 90,000 people and it now has 400,000," the Arcadia native outlines during his holiday home this week. "The local response cannot meet that at all. There is an enormous mass of people in need. In the last four or five months our priests say the situation has worsened. Food, medical facilities and water is in urgent need. A lot of them tell us there are children dying every day," the Monsignor, who works in a seminary training student priests in pastoral work explains. "I've heard very little about it since I came to Ireland. People talk about donor fatigue but they are ordinary people, like me or you, who are dying," he points out in the starkest terms ahead of a fundraiser for his work in Athlone GAA club on Friday, September 23 next. "I hope to send any money to the East of Kenya. It'll get there quickly and it will get to the people who need it. There is no administration with me," the former Athlone and Westmeath footballer stresses, thanking Athlone people for their continued support, in particular his many friends in the GAA. There aren't any easy solutions to the problems in Eastern Kenya though, he admits. "For me, Somalia has to get its act together. If the civil war situation could be solved, it would help. Kenya generally has enough resources to look after its own but not the two. It's difficult to solve though, in the short-term I don't see an end to that," the affable cleric says with more than a note of frustration. Although he acknowledges a lot of things have improved in Africa since he first went there back in 1972, especially communication and education, some old problems continue to dog the continent. "The thing that really struck me about Kenya is the tribalism, you're first from a tribal group and then a Kenyan. People are also very distrustful of each other," something he attributes as an after effect of the terrible violence and massacres after the Presidential elections in 2008. Security concerns are a constant worry for priests, he says, describing as one of the big sorrows of Kenya the great wealth in the country combined with enormous poverty. Close to his home are two huge slums, one of which, Kibera, is home to over a million people "living on the absolute fringes". The big challenge for the church he says is give a call to unity for all Kenyans and to be that prophetic voice to speak out where there is injustice. Community is very important in Africa but that is being lost to tribalism, he adds. "That unity call is really important. The people need to put the country first and then their tribe," he believes, acknowledging that it is an issue throughout Africa, something he has also experienced in Zambia, Nigeria and Malawi. Back in 1992, Monsignor Roche, then an acting bishop, was that prophetic voice speaking out as part of a pastoral letter dealing with human rights and justice, a step viewed by the dictatorship as open dissent of their regime. "It called for change - freedom, democracy and human rights," he recalls and blame for its contents were pointed directly at him by the authorities. As a result, he was expelled under threat of death from the central African country with just 24 hours to leave after working there for two decades. But Monsignor Roche says that letter acted as a "catalyst for change" leading to a movement which fought and gained democracy, pointing out that justice and honesty are integral parts of the gospel and his ministry. Of his hopes for Africa in the years ahead, the Athlone-born priest is very clear on what is needed for real improvements: "I'd love to see good leadership. Africa in general is need of good leaders to serve the people and not line their own pockets. That is true of the whole of Africa and until it gets that it will continue to be problematic." He is by no means downbeat though as he enjoys the end of his holidays meeting up with old friends and family. In all his challenges Monsignor Roche says the people of Athlone are his good news. "I feel when I come home there's a lot of bad news but for me, the people of Athlone are good news. Because of their kindness and support they are part of my African adventure and I'm hugely grateful for it," he says recalling previous funds supported many women's projects and initiatives. "The footprint of Athlone is all over Malawi, Zambia and Nigeria. It's a good footprint of love and kindness. I think it's enormously powerful," hailing the great goodness of Irish people and capacity of thinking of others even as the country goes through its own economic problems. Athlone GAA club will host a fundraiser in their clubhouse to aid Monsignor Roche's work in Kenya on September 23 next. Donations can also left into St Mary's Presbytery.