Our Work

In the sixties, seventies and early eighties the Irish Diocesan groups of Mercy sisters were involved in a variety of activities. They established health and educational facilities; spread the gospel message mainly through ecumenical and pastoral religious programmes in the institutes where they worked; and sometimes helped to design suitable programmes for these purposes. They operated services in hospitals and clinics, including mobile units in very difficult terrain, and some were Tutors for young Kenyan nurses. They gave services both in Administration and in teaching in Primary and Secondary schools and in Teacher-Training colleges.

Srs. Jacinta and Redempta, early educationalists, welcoming a newcomer in1972

Most of the buildings where they worked depended largely on overseas funding, usually through the Catholic Development Services of the dioceses, supplemented by funds raised by the sisters, but a few of these were built completely through Mercy resources, and therefore were owned by the Mercy congregation independently. Those which are owned by the Mercy Congregation are some of the oldest institutions, e.g. Makadara (1960), a highly-respected clinic serving a large area of need in Nairobi, the Mater Hospital, which has its own website ( www.materkenya.com ), Villa Maria; currently the Provincialate; and some are new, e.g. the beautiful African Novitiate from which one can view Lake Nakuru and its environs, and the St. Bakita's Compound.

Some of these institutions, especially schools, were later transferred to government ownership, while "Sponsorship", carrying responsibilities and privileges (variously interpreted), was retained by bishops, or seconded to the sisters who were involved in their administration. In more recent times, mainly the nineties, with the added emphasis given to our original primary charism of Mercy to the most marginalized, (as in other parts of the Mercy World), we have largely withdrawn from direct involvement in second and third-level education (except for technical and business streams).

The number of sisters who work in well-established health-facilities has also been reduced, although a guiding presence through membership of Boards of Governors or Advisory Boards is often retained, where this seems advisable and desired. We have tried to direct our energies to areas, e.g. to the city slums, which seemed to us, after much discernment, to have more pressing unmet needs than in those ministries where we previously worked. This transition was sometimes due to the provision of services by the government or by indigenous diocesan congregations. This sometimes suited our priorities. It enabled us to expand our ministry in the Nairobi slums.

The following institutions were among those handed over:
Mbooni (in the early 80s); Karen (1980); Eldama Ravine (1993);
Makueni (1997/98); and Njoro and Kipkelion (1999-2000), as the new Novitiate "came to birth".

Our two houses for Initial Formation (Miguta and Ngarariga), are well suited for the purpose, situated as they are in rural, well-populated areas, yet close enough (within 35klms.) to avail of the courses/lecture-opportunities/spiritual counsellors available in Nairobi. Those in formation there (Postulants and Pre-Postulants) form community with sisters who work in the local educational and health ministries, as well as having their own resident directors.

Urban poverty in Kenya had, like many other large centers of population in the deprived parts of the world, reached its worst level by the end of the last century, and there seemed to be no "light at the end of the tunnel". The two areas of poverty, i.e. rural and urban, are connected.

A lot of our involvement is now in the Mukuru slums of Nairobi (Express, Kyaba, Lunga-Lunga and St. Catherine's), the Turkana Desert (Lokori and Lodwar), the semi-arid areas of Kitui/Mwingi (Mutomo, Nuu, Nguutani); Machakos (Masii and Kibwezi), and the remote, poorly developed West-Pokot region (Chepareria), although the forms deprivation takes vary.

An article in a U.S. paper, written by journalist Declan Walsh in Dec.2001, summarizes the contrast and the connection. It was written on the occasion of the visit to Kenya of President Mary McAleese, who had brought a glimpse of Kenyan realities to a wider audience.

Welcoming President Mary McAleese during her visit to Mutomo

Mutomo Hospital celebrated the Fortieth Anniversary of its Foundation on 12th December 2002 with Mass celebrated by the Bishop of Kitui, Boniface Lele. Later there were colourful dances, addresses by many appreciative speakers for the great work done there over the years by the Mercy Sisters and the hard-working staff of the hospital. In the evening there was a splendid re-enactment of the arrival in Mutomo of the first group of sisters, greeted as they were by the much-loved former bishop, William Dunne, (then Apostolic Administrator), who visited the hospital only two weeks before he went to his heavenly in April 2002. There was a hilarious representation of a typical day in the life of the hospital, which might suggest that the staff who took the acting roles would easily find employment in an alternative vocation, were it not that the people of the area need their health services so crucially. They and the rest of the hospital staff will, no doubt, continue to give the same commitment as has been given over the years to the people of God. We congratulate them and wish them many blessings.

The Mater Hospital facilitates a very different social group economically. Its services and equipment are of a high standard, and the fees from its patients enable the continuance of many projects that would not be viable without support. In 2002 mater Hospital achieved ISO 2000 Status, a distinction unique in Sub-Sahara Africa.

Makadara community, also in Nairobi, houses a most essential symbol of our efforts to redress the balance between the very comfortable and the destitute in our society. Both the Kenyan and the African Justice and Peace Desks are located there, and the sisters who are responsible for getting us all involved in that great work form part of that community. McAuley House on the same compound provides facilities for many meetings, and for the sisters at the novitiate in Nakuru, when they need to come to Nairobi for courses. It recently was the venue for a most colourful and joyful gathering of Mercy Associates working in Kenya.