(The Christian Science Monitor) Pope Francis, dubbed the “humble pontiff” for his focus on the poor and his own simple inclinations, arrives here Wednesday at a time of immense frustration with the lavish lifestyles of Kenyan leaders.
His visit to Kenya—and later Central African Republic and Uganda—coincides with the resignation of a cabinet minister this past weekend over a flurry of corruption accusations and millions of dollars in missing funds. Kenya ranks as one of the world’s most corrupt countries, and President Uhuru Kenyatta declared corruption a national security threat on Monday.
The pope has already earned applause from the everyman for declining a dinner invitation at the president’s residence in favor of a simple meal in Kangemi, a Nairobi slum, and prioritizing a speech to the masses at a stadium over addressing parliament. Indeed, Pope Francis’s rejection of much of the pomp and riches of his office offers a stark contrast to how Kenyan politicians use their offices to enrich themselves—and an unspoken challenge to them to do things differently.
