Catholic Media Personnel Complete Preparatory Training Ahead of the 21st AMECEA Plenary Assembly
By Eric Mwaniki, SJ
Earlier this week, Catholic media personnel from across the Kenya gathered at the Madonna Immacolata Centre for a media training programme organized by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), in collaboration with the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) Secretariat and the Media Council of Kenya. The training was held in preparation for the 21st AMECEA Plenary Assembly, which will take place from 18th to 26th July 2026 at The Catholic University of Eastern Africa under the theme: “AMECEA’s Synodal Journey with Young People: Building Bridges of Communion, Hope, Justice, and Good Governance.”
The programme, which commenced on 7th July 2026, equipped Catholic media personnel with the knowledge and practical skills required to provide effective and coordinated coverage of the forthcoming Plenary Assembly. The opening sessions introduced participants to the history and mission of AMECEA, covering its foundation, membership, episcopal leadership, and the growth of dioceses across the region. These sessions were facilitated by Rev. Fr. Andrew Kaufa, AMECEA Social Communications Coordinator. Participants also received a presentation on the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in Catholic communications by Br. Elias Mokua, SJ, Director of the Loyola Centre for Media and Communication (LCMC).
To facilitate efficient media operations during the Assembly, participants were assigned to specialized teams according to their expertise. These included Radio, Television, Social Media and Photography, Print, Oversight, and Directing, with each team entrusted with clearly defined responsibilities within the Assembly’s Media Centre.
On the second day of the programme, participants received training in contemporary digital communication. Denison Machuki facilitated a session on Digital Journalism, while Christine Njuki from the Media Council of Kenya led a session on Podcasting and Digital Content Creation, equipping participants with practical skills for producing engaging multimedia content that supports the Church’s evangelizing mission in the digital age.
The training programme was organized by Fr. Gerald Omunyin, National Executive Secretary of the KCCB Commission for Social Communications. The initiative reflects the Church’s commitment to promoting excellence in Catholic communications and ensuring that the proceedings of the Plenary Assembly will be faithfully documented and shared with the People of God throughout the AMECEA region and beyond.
