Lari MP Joseph Mburu Kahangara and Nominated MP Irene Nyakerario represented National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula at the 2025 International Catholic Legislators Network (ICLN) Conference held in Vienna.
The annual forum convened lawmakers and faith leaders from Europe, Africa, and other regions to deliberate on critical global issues at the crossroads of faith, governance, peace, and development. This year’s agenda focused on demographic transitions, global peace-building, policymaking in faith contexts, and sustainability imperatives.
On the sidelines of the event, the Kenyan delegation held bilateral talks with Kenya’s Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative to the UN Offices in Vienna, Maurice Makoloo, and Deputy Head of Mission, Ambassador Valerie Rugene. Discussions centred on enhancing Kenya’s foreign policy through proactive parliamentary support.
“This platform is not just about dialogue but about deepening our responsibility as legislators to reflect and act,” said Hon. Mburu. “We appreciated the opportunity to consider how European societies are managing demographic shifts and how Kenya can learn while safeguarding its development path.”
European concerns over declining populations stood in contrast to Kenya’s youthful demographic. Hon. Mayaka highlighted this difference, noting, “While Europe grapples with fertility decline, in Kenya we are managing youthful populations, minority inclusion, and the balance between cultural identity and national cohesion.”
Ambassador Rugene urged the legislators to bolster Kenya’s engagement with the European Union, particularly in trade, culture, energy, and technology diplomacy. She also called for parliamentary backing for Kenya’s foreign policy blueprint under Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2025.
“Every embassy needs the strength of Parliament behind it,” she stated. “Our diplomatic work must deliver economic value to Kenyans—through technology transfer, nuclear partnerships, or waste management innovations.”
A key theme of the conference was the synergy between faith and state. Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna urged leaders to pursue “governance anchored in virtue,” blending spiritual and legal responsibilities.
Addressing Kenya’s own debates on faith and politics, Hon. Mayaka advocated for inclusive dialogue, stating, “There is need for genuine intra-dialogue not just between Church and State, but within the Church itself and among faith communities.”
Ambassador Makoloo emphasised the importance of Kenya’s Vienna mission, which also covers five Central and Eastern European countries. Marking 60 years of diplomatic ties with Austria, he called for diplomacy to be matched with commercial outcomes in areas such as renewable energy and industrial machinery.
The Kenyan MPs also engaged with peers from Spain, Hungary, Macedonia, and Italy on youth leadership, family values, and economic development. A shared concern was the shifting landscape of global aid and its impact on Africa’s health systems.
“We need to wake up to the reality that aid is no longer guaranteed,” said Hon. Mayaka. “Africa must focus on domestic resource mobilisation, public-private partnerships, and innovation.”
The ICLN conference concluded with a pledge to strengthen faith-informed leadership and global cooperation. Kenya’s delegation vowed to share lessons from Vienna with Parliament to influence policy reviews and committee work.
“We must link what we have learned here to our legislative responsibilities back home,” said Hon. Mburu. “Our representation abroad must inspire meaningful reforms and conversations within.”
As global challenges evolve—from demography and peace-building to climate and technology—Kenya reaffirmed its role at the intersection of faith, diplomacy, and transformation
