Bishop Nyaperah urges Kenyans to reaffirm family values this Christmas.

Bishop Wycliffe Nyaperah of the Legion Maria Church/HANDOUT

Bishop Wycliffe Nyaperah of the Legion Maria Church has called on Kenyans to reaffirm the centrality of the family, describing it as the foundation upon which society is built.

In his Christmas message, Nyaperah said the bible consistently presents the family as sacred, urging believers to look to the Holy Family of Nazareth—Joseph, Mary and the Child Jesus—as a timeless example of love, fidelity, sacrifice and obedience to God.

He stressed that strengthening family life is not only a religious duty but also a social imperative.

“The family is the nucleus of society and the domestic church. Life begins at the family level,” Nyaperah said. “When families are strong, society is strong. Whoever has a family has everything.”

The bishop encouraged families to use the Christmas season as a time to express love more intentionally, urging parents and guardians to prioritise their homes amid competing pressures of modern life.

According to Nyaperah, Christmas offers an opportunity for reconciliation, healing and renewed commitment to shared values within households.

“This Christmas season, show and express love to your family. Give them priority,” he said, noting that the birth of Christ serves as a reminder of God’s love expressed through family life.

Nyaperah also called for moral uprightness, particularly in matters of marriage and personal conduct.

He urged married couples to remain faithful to their vows, describing marriage as a sacred covenant rooted in love and commitment.

“Marriage vows must be honoured in faithfulness and love,” he said. “Those who are unmarried, especially the youth, are encouraged to practise self-discipline and purity, awaiting marriage with patience and hope.”

Acknowledging the realities facing many Kenyan households, the bishop expressed concern over the growing challenges confronting families, including economic hardship, the rising cost of living, domestic violence, lack of peace and weakened parental guidance.

He said children often suffer the most when families are strained.

“It grieves us as bishops to witness cases of child neglect, abandonment and abuse,” Nyaperah said. “Our Lord Jesus reminds us of the sacred worth of every child, and no child should ever be treated as expendable.”

He called on both the Church and society to work together to restore the dignity of the family, including families headed by single parents, and to safeguard the rights and welfare of children.

Nyaperah also acknowledged the role of government in protecting the family through legislation and policy, citing Article 45 of the Constitution of Kenya (2010), which recognises the family as the natural and fundamental unit of society.

He noted that the Constitution guarantees equal rights within marriage and affirms marriage between persons of the opposite sex.

He further referenced the Marriage Act, 2014, and the Children Act, 2022, which emphasise free consent in marriage, set the minimum marriage age at 18, and prioritise the best interests of the child.