Kenya

The first RNDM mission in Kenya was part of the 1996 General Chapter thrust, which itself was a response to Vatican II’s call to religious congregations to reclaim the charism of their founders. For the RNDMs our response was to take up again the vision of Euphrasie in founding a congregation ‘consecrated for mission’.

The first four RNDMs from the British Isles Province arrived in Kenya in August 1967 just four years after Independence. The RNDMs were very aware that this was the first RNDM foundation not only in Kenya, but in all of Africa.

In Kenya, these were the early years of Independence and the Kenyan Government was moving to provide education for all. Earlier most of the schools in Kenya were Church-based and education was not available to all. Now the number of schools increased and Kenya moved towards developing its own systems of education. The nineteen sixties also saw a new movement in the Church with the ordination of indigenous priests. Junior Seminaries were opened to enable young men begin their priestly formation.

Sisters are working in social work, pastoral work, health ministry and education at different levels.