The Bishop of the Diocese of Embu, Rt. Rev. Peter Kimani Ndung’u, yesterday held a strategic meeting with senior officials from Caritas Microfinance Bank (CMFB) at his office in Embu. The session lasted several hours and centered around strengthening partnerships that can help parishes and Christian communities mobilize and manage their own financial resources more effectively.
Empowering the Faithful Through Financial Literacy
Caritas Microfinance Bank, a faith-rooted financial institution established by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), has a mission to promote financial inclusion—particularly among Catholic communities and underserved populations.
During the meeting, the bank’s team shared insights into how faith-based groups, parishes, and individuals can:
- Form parish-based savings groups
- Access tailored financial products
- Receive training on money management
- Develop parish-based micro-projects
- Build economic resilience rooted in Gospel values
Partnership Potential
The Diocese and Caritas Embu expressed interest in working with CMFB to:
- Train parish leaders, Caritas staff, and SHGs
- Support income-generating projects for youth and women groups
- Establish parish-based saving and investment cooperatives
- Explore co-branded financial services aligned with Church values
Caritas Embu, which already facilitates self-help and savings groups at the grassroots, is expected to play a central role in piloting and scaling such initiatives at the community level.
The Way Forward
The Bishop and the Caritas Microfinance Bank team agreed to begin drafting a formal framework for collaboration, including:
- Parish sensitization forums
- Training workshops across all deaneries
- Financial literacy campaigns integrated into Caritas and pastoral programming