Assessing the Role of the Roman Catholic Church in the Education and Socio-Economic Development of Meru County, Kenya

Abstract

The success and development of each nation are based on the tenets which are cherished by its populace. This is partly expressed in the way they subscribe to their religious and socio-cultural values, which in turn promote social economic development. This article examined the role of the Roman Catholic Church in fostering the well-being of people in Meru County in Kenya. The research was guided by the following question: What role has the Roman Catholic Church played in the social economic development of the people in Meru County? Two theories, namely the Hybrid Quasi Theory and the Complementary Theory were employed to contextualize the research findings. The purposive sampling technique was utilized to select thirty participants who participated in the study. Questionnaires containing both open and closed-ended items were administered to the clergy from the thirty sampled parishes of the Roman Catholic Church in Meru County. The findings revealed that the church has partnered with the national and county governments to transform the Ameru people’s lives. This study highlighted the need for both the government and non-governmental development agencies to frequently consult with the church in advancing development. This study will benefit the people of Meru, the Roman Catholic Church and other churches, academicians and in particular scholars of religion and persons in social and economic positions of decisive influence. The study further creates an awareness to the ordinary populace of Meru County that the church not only enhances their spiritual well-being but also acts as an agent of social, economic and political development. Keywords: Religion, Development, Socio-Economic Development, Parish, The Roman Catholic Church.