NAIROBI, Kenya — Much excitement was generated here when the Bible Society of Kenya (BSK) launched the new translation in Kikuyu of the Deuterocanonical books of the Bible.
The BSK produced the translation of the Deuterocanon to accompany the new Kikuyu common language and interconfessional Bible which is now being prepared for publication.
“The Word of God stands by itself – it doesn’t need any human being to defend it. You must love and honour God’s Word,” said the Rt Rev Antony Ireri Mukobo, Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Nairobi, when the new books were given their official presentation.
Dr Mary Khimulu, Chairperson of the BSK board and herself a Roman Catholic,
urged all Christians to have and read their own Bible and to carry it to church
– as she does.
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“I have never seen a situation like this
where there has almost been fighting to obtain the Scriptures. People
were shouting at the sales staff in their enthusiasm to obtain copies.”
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The launch, held at the Queen of Apostles Catholic Church, Kasarani District,
was packed. Following the dedication service many people gathered around the
Bible Society vehicle to obtain the new Scriptures for themselves. They then
gathered in groups to examine and read them.
Similar scenes were repeated in Murang’a and in Nyeri when the newly translated Deuterocanon was launched there. At the end of the service of dedication in Murang’a, people’s enthusiasm to get their hands on the Scriptures resulted in tempers being roused, according to Sospeter Gatobu, the BSK’s Public Relations Manager.
“Dr Khimulu and the Rev Henry Kathii (the Chairperson and the General Secretary, respectively, of the BSK) had to stop talking to the dignitaries after the church service and come to the assistance of the BSK staff in meeting the demand for copies of the new Scriptures,” he said.
“I have never seen a situation like this where there has almost been fighting to obtain the Scriptures. People were shouting at the sales staff in their enthusiasm to obtain copies.”
The Kikuyu Deuterocanon was launched during the Family Day Festival at Murang’a Catholic Cathedral. Copies were escorted to the altar by a group of men dancing to a traditional Kikuyu song.
The books were dedicated by the Rt Rev Peter Kairo, Bishop of Nakuru and the Rt Rev Peter Kihara, Bishop of Murang’a. They prayed that the new Scriptures would liberate the minds of readers and that they would be read every day by everyone. In Nyeri, the dedication service took place during a service for the ordination of three new priests.
The Archbishop of Nyeri, the Right Rev Nicodemus Kirima, prayed that people would not just read the Deuterocanon but be drawn into reading the whole Bible. He also thanked the BSK for working on the Kikuyu Bible.
The BSK General Secretary took advantage of the services to remind Christians that Bible work needs the support of everyone in order to reach those who have no access to God’s Word. He urged the Catholic Church to become more involved in giving to the Bible cause. (WR 357/33 - 1/2.01) [PHOTOS]