KENYA: Mass panic after ‘so many people’ return to Church

WITH the number of people returning to Church in Kenya skyrocketing, the equipment used by nuns for baking Eucharistic wafers has broken down. 

The 26 Carmelite Sisters, who live in the Monastery of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Convent in Machakos Diocese, southern Kenya, strive to support themselves by working with their hands.

While their principal vocation is prayer, the nuns bake unleavened wafers and make liturgical items and clothes for the local Church.

Kenya has a population of more than 55,300,000 which is 82.5 percent Christian, according to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) ’s Religious Freedom in the World report 2025. 

The Carmelite monastery, the first in Kenya, was established by Sisters from Utrera, Spain, in 1999 and has grown.

The wafer-baking equipment they were using was very antiquated, frequently broke down and in constant need of repairs, which made their work difficult and painstaking. 

At the same time, the need for Eucharistic wafers has increased and the Sisters struggled with the increased demand.

Prioress, Sister Mary Therese Ndinda, told ACN: “The experience of the pandemic has led many people to come back to Church.” 

She said the nuns, who come from many countries including Spain, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Tanzania, could not afford new equipment, since their earnings barely cover their own very modest needs.

They turned to ACN and with support from benefactors new altar-bread baking equipment has enabled the nuns to produce the wafers more easily and efficiently.

Sister Mary Therese, on behalf of her community, added: “We want to express our gratitude for your generous support.”