Can a 'humble pope' temper Kenya's political extravagance?
(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.
