An investigation of the Catholic Church’s viewpoint on miraa production and consumption in Igembe Deanery, Meru Diocese

Abstract

The study sought to investigate the Catholic Church’s viewpoint on miraa production and consumption in Igembe Deanery, Meru Diocese, Kenya. The study employed a descriptive research design. Data were obtained from oral interviews, focus group discussions, questionnaires, primary and secondary sources, and participant observation to ensure the study's validity and reliability. The study was based on the Structural-Functionalism and Social Conflict theory in order to establish the viewpoint of the Catholic Church on miraa production and usage in Igembe Deanery despite the CC policies on drugs of all kinds except on therapeutic grounds. A sample of 348 of the 3614 church members in Igembe Deanery was chosen for the study. Ten (10) priests, eight (8) catechists, ten (10) elders, ten (10) farmers, ten (10) traders and three hundred (300) church members from sampled parishes of Igembe Deanery were used as key informants. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentages, tables and the mean were used in analysing data. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 27.0 was used to analyse the data. This study’s findings were that the Catholic Church in Igembe Deanery, Diocese of Meru, views miraa as the main source of livelihood for Christians, and miraa's economic, socio-cultural, religious, and educational functions are the main reasons for the Catholic Church in Igembe Deanery to accept Khat's production and consumption. This study recommends that the church in Africa needs to enhance efficient and effective Christianity by enhancing the inculturation of Christianity in Africa.