Participants in ACAP IV Workshop at AACC, Nairobi
22nd October 2021
The Kenya National Guidelines on Ethical Investment Workshop was held at the All Africa Conference of Churches in Nairobi on 21 and 22 October 2021. The workshop brought together participants from Churches and Church Related Organisations (CROs), governments, civil society, and the private sector and was also attended by expert consultants, university academics and the youth. It was graced by the Archbishop Emeritus Dr Eliud Wabukala, Chairperson of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Kenya as guest speaker.
Other dignitaries included Rev. Dr Fidon Mwombeki, General Secretary of AACC; Msgr. Prof. Dr Francis Obiora Ike, a celebrated ethics scholar and great public speaker, who serves as the Executive Director of Globethics.net, Geneva, Switzerland; Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, Chairman, National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) of Kenya; Archbishop Martin Kivuva, the Chairman of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and Prof. Jesse Mugambi, a leading scholar from the University of Nairobi.
The objectives of this workshop were to enable participants to learn more about the multi-year African Church Assets Programme (ACAP) and about the fourth phase of the programme (ACAP IV) with its focus on ethical investment; to be informed about the findings and recommendations of the country study undertaken and presented at the Virtual National Workshop in July; to hear from and exchange with experts and peers on critical issues to do with assets management and ethical investment; to take an active part in critiquing, developing and contributing to a set of national guidelines and action plans; and to consider ways in which the national guidelines can be effectively adopted and implemented in their various contexts.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Obiora Ike pointed out that Churches and CROs are intrinsically linked to their communities by saying, “In local environments, wherever they are, Churches and CROs are at the heart of and at the service of communities. They and all those who minister in whatever role have a role to be exemplary, in conduct and practice.” For that matter, “Integrity, trust, rule of law, transparency and honesty remain virtues which Churches and CROs can and ought to adopt as CORE VALUES for long term activities.”
These remarks were echoed by the guest speaker in a speech read on his behalf. He pointed out that the Church occupies a unique position to positively influence society through ethical living, servant leadership, cultural transformation and spiritual advancement. He argued that this is possible because, “The demographic base of Christians in Kenya currently stands at approximately 95% of our universal religious orientation. The Church equally has a wide grassroots network in the country.” He went on to state that discussing guidelines on ethical investment is appropriate and relevant because it seeks to advance ethical leadership in the Church which requires both personal and systematic commitment by all Church leaders.
