http://allafrica.com/stories/200906160829.htmlKenya: 'Shocked' Bishops to Probe Sex Abuse Claim
16 June 2009
Nakuru — The Catholic bishops of Kenya have expressed shock at allegations of child sex abuse by a prominent missionary priest and promised "to investigate the matter to its final conclusion."
The privately-owned Kenya Television Network (KTN) claimed in a Monday night report that Fr. Renato Kizito Sesana, an Italian missionary well known for his work with disadvantaged children, has been sexually molesting some of the boys in his care for the last 20 years.
KTN reported that it was in possession of leaked videos that the priest shot of himself abusing the boys. The station said it could not air the videos because they were too graphic. Fr. Kizito is also claimed to have invited some of his friends and other contacts in Europe to molest the minors.On Tuesday, Fr. Kizito categorically denied the report in a press statement. "Let me state very clearly. I have not sodomized any child. I am ready to face anybody who can prove the opposite," he said.
In a pastoral letter signed by Kenya Episcopal conference chairman, John Cardinal Njue, the country's Catholic bishops said they were shocked by the KTN news report.
"If these allegations are true, then we condemn them in the strongest terms possible and in our pain we feel sorry for the affected children and their families. We will do everything possible to investigate the matter to its final conclusion in order to establish the truth and take all the appropriate actions as a caring church."
http://allafrica.com/stories/200906160678.htmlKenya: Catholic Missionary Denies Sex Scandal
16 June 2009
Nairobi — A statement issued today by Comboni missionary Fr. Renato Kizito Sesana in response to a news report Monday accusing him of sexual misconduct:
I have been absent from Kenya since the beginning of January. I returned yesterday morning because I was informed about what was happening and I wanted to face the situation.
Let me state very clearly. I have not sodomized any child. I am ready to face anybody who can prove the opposite.
Yesterday as soon as I was back in the country I went to Kilimani CID office to record a statement, and to deposit an affidavit in which a young man has sworn that he was offered a very substantial amount of money to bring false accusations of sexual nature against me, and when he refused to take part in the scheme, he received threats.
I am aware that some criminals do use such allegations of sexual offences to instill fear in lay and religious people working with young people, usually with the intention of extorting money. I am not ready to fall into this trap.
This particular story started last October. An anonymous email was sent out, purportedly depicting me naked with a young adult - it is impossible to say if it was a man or a woman. Those pictures were clearly doctored using photo editing software, and so I did not accord them much importance.
Unfortunately the situation deteriorated when I left the country for some rest. Little by little, I discovered that the real issue was not a simple case of attempted defamation, but it was a much bigger plan to take over the properties that Koinonia has built over the years with the help of an Italian NGO called Amani. I had never considered the monetary value of the facilities and resources we have built for the direct and indirect benefit of the destitute children under our care, but now the properties are estimated at a commercial value of about three million euros, which is more than three billion Kenya shillings.
I believe that these properties are the real target of the people behind these accusations. These were people who enjoyed my confidence, and had access to all the documents of Koinonia, and were therefore aware of its commercial value. They came very close to transferring all the properties to their names, in fact the title deeds of our properties have been removed from my office, but we reacted in a legal manner and they are no longer among the Trustees of Kononia. In fact, we have secured the properties safely in the hands of the Koinonia Community Trust.
We have more people who are ready to testify that they were bribed, threatened or tortured in order to testify falsely against me.At the moment they are scared, but in due course they will file their personal affidavits. One of them was ready to be here today, but I do not act like the other party and I do not want him or them to be traumatized for the rest of their lives. They will be undergo proper interrogation by the police, and in case of anything they will appear in court.
I wonder whether those who are making allegations of sexual assault and indecent conduct have ever lodged a complaint with the police, accompanied with the relevant evidence.
I am surprised by the unprofessional way in which KTN journalists acted when they approached me yesterday. They only identified themselves verbally - without a press card - and their cameras and the car they were using were not marked. It was at six o'clock in the evening, and I had not rested after a long flight the previous night. When I told them I was tired and needed some rest, they switched on their cameras and started recording. I did not see the news report that was aired on KTN last night, but according to expert friends who watched it, it does not comply with minimal professional and ethical standards.
I have been in this country for more than 21 years, I have started media institutions like New People and Radio Waumini, and I have taken care of thousands of Kenyan children, yet I was not given a fair chance to clear myself from these terrible accusations. Moreover, Kenya has a police force. The policemen in Riruta would have been able to provide interesting records about the two characters who appeared in yesterday's news report. There is also a Children's Officer who regularly visits Koinonia's Kivuli Centre, and probably knows more about what is going on than I do. Why wasn't she interviewed?
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Today we celebrate the Day of the African Child. Koinonia and its various institutions currently have about 250 former street children under their care, day and night, and there are hundreds more we assist while they remain living with their families. I do not ask for priviledged treatement, but I believe I could have justice through the normal channels. I am afraid this sinister plot to take over the properties of Koinonia could hurt the children, and I appeal to the Kenya authorities and Kenyan citizens to continue to support the good work done by our social workers in all our children's home.
If the accusations against me are true I am willing to face the full face of the law, and if the accusations are found to be false, those who have originated and stage-managed them should equally be prepared to face the law. Towards this end, I have recorded a statement with the Kilimani Police.
Signed
Fr. Renato Kizito Sesana, Nairobi, 16 June 2009
http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?i...20Kizito%20sagaChurch on the defensive over Father Kizito saga
By Lucianne Limo
The Catholic Church was is reeling from allegations of a sex scandal against one of its senior clergymen with the potential of shaking the church to its core.
A group of young boys alleged that one of the church’s best-known benefactor missionaries, Fr Renato Kizito Sesana, had sexually abused them during his over 20-year tenure as a charity worker in Kenya.
The shocking revelations were aired in the Monday KTN Prime Time news bulletin only a day before the marking of the Day of the African Child.
The story broke as an 80-year-old Legio Maria sect priest was jailed for life in Kisumu for defiling a minor.
Allegations by the boys who accused Fr Kizito, represented by City lawyer Stephen Kibunja, were backed by still and video pictures of the alleged lewd acts.
But Fr Kizito did not take the accusations lying down. He came out fighting even as some 22 bishops came out in a joint rare reaction to keep in check the potential damage the story could cause the more than 4 million-strong church.
Fr Renato Kizito Sesana. He refuted claims he sodomised boys under his care.
Led by Nairobi Archbishop John Cardinal Njue, the bishops issued a joint statement promising to do everything possible to investigate the matter to its final conclusion.
Fr Kizito, who runs shelter homes in Nairobi under the name Koinonia, vehemently denied molesting boys under his care and blamed his former board of trustees of waging a dirty war against him to take over properties worth Sh3 billion.
His lawyer
"Let me state very clearly. I have not sodomised any child ever in Kenya or anywhere else. I am ready to face anybody who can prove the opposite," he said.
The priest, who appeared in the company of his lawyer Mr Kioko Kilukumi spoke to the press at his Shalom House at Dagoretti Corner, off Ngong Road.
He was also accompanied by Mr Giarn Marco, the president of an Italian NGO that has supported Koinonia for the last 15 years.
Kizito said he had returned from Italy recently where he had been since January after he was informed of the allegations against him.
Footage
"I have no comment on the footage. I haven’t seen it. It is impossible that there is footage of the boys and me," Kizito said yesterday.
"There are people hell bent on taking over my properties and the last obstacle for them is me," he added.
"This is a case of blackmail, defamation and extortion. If I had not come these people would have transferred the ownership of Koinonia within a month," he said, without revealing names.
Nairobi Archbishop John Cardinal Njue (centre) consults with Bishop Sulumeti of Kakamega (right) and Coenlius Schilder of Ngong at a press conference in Nakuru. [PHOTOS: LUCAS THUO/STANDARD]
Fr Kizito claimed his woes began in October when an e-mail was circulated depicting him naked, with a young adult.
"It is impossible to say if the picture was of a man or a woman. Those pictures were clearly doctored using photo editing software and so I did not accord them much importance," added he.
Molested
He went on: "These people came very close to transferring all the properties into their names.
He said the boys who claimed he molested them had been bribed to testify against him.
At Kivuli Centre where the alleged acts were performed, the Administrator George Baridi denied knowledge of such acts.
But a trustee of Koinonia Michael Owiso, who was among the whistleblowers, yesterday insisted the allegations were true.
"If this is what is happening I have responsibility to take action," Mr Owiso said.
Formal complaints
Njue, who read the statement in Nakuru, said: "We wish to take this opportunity to express our shock at what we saw last night in one of the television stations concerning allegation of sexual abuse by a priest," he said.
He said the Church could not condone such behaviour but hinted it might have received unverified complaints on the issue.
"We had not received formal complaints but what do you do when you receive unsigned complaints from anonymous people?" Cardinal Njue asked when replying to questions from journalists.