Gabriel Watwa: Ex-Policeman who is transforming men through Catholic teachings

When he was recruited into the National Police Service, Gabriel Watwa did not know that he would transform the lives of many colleagues through the Catholic Faith.

As a junior police officer, he did his daily assigned duties to the best of his knowledge and as it was required.

Having been brought up in a strong Catholic faith it was also his wish to see that his colleagues of the same faith uphold the same.

Opportunity suddenly came, and he never let it slip off. He applied to be trained as a Catholic Catechist (popularly known as Mwalimu wa Dini) and luckily got enlisted to train at Emali in Makueni County.

Through vigorous catechism course training, Watwa acquired skills and knowledge which he used to assist his colleagues back at his working station.

Through him, his colleagues have received marital guidance, their marriages formalized through church weddings and their children taught and baptized under the catholic faith.

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“Through my teachings of the Catholic faith, I have seen saw a great positive change to the police officers and their families. I saw police officers easily interacting with the public as they discharged their duties. The public didn’t view the police as a force to them but officers discharging services to the public,” Watwa said.

In addition, he said that he has guided and counselled his colleagues regarding their duties and daily activities which make them better in the service.

Watwa who have worked at various police stations in the country, insisted that discipline is the driving force for success.

“I have also worked as the Disaster Management Programme Coordinator at the National Police Service Headquarters in Nairobi. I’m proud to have served my country diligently until my retirement in 2019,” he said.

Recently, Education News caught up with him at Makutano church in West Pokot County teaching the Trainers of Trainers (ToTs) of the Catholic Men Association (CMA)

Watwa does the same in other parishes in the Catholic Diocese of Kitale which eventually leads to the commissioning of the Catholic Men in the Church.

“I thank God, for He is the provider of everything I will serve Him fully throughout my life,” Watwa said.

By Martin Ruto