Frank Nzwili

As Kenya mourned the 21 young boys killed in a school dormitory fire Sept. 6 in Kieni, Archbishop Anthony Muheria of Nyeri said the church was heartbroken and urged Christians to stay close to the affected families. The tragedy at the Hillside Endarasha Academy in the central Kenyan county of Nyeri has drawn anger and shock, as Kenyans recall similar tragedies and a promise for government action on safety in schools. As of Sept. 9, 17 children remained missing.

Kenyan Catholic bishops have welcomed as a "hand of God" the apparent truce between President Uhuru Kenyatta and influential opposition leader Raila Odinga, whose prolonged election dispute had threatened to trigger widespread chaos in the East African nation.