“The story of my vocation is rooted in the narrow alleys and dusty paths of the Korogocho slum, one of the most impoverished and forgotten corners of Nairobi.” Bro. Brian Onyango shares some reflections on his vocation journey.

Despite being raised in this environment with little family support, I was nourished by the sacraments and the silent strength of the Catholic faith. It was through serving as an altar boy, and later as a church youth leader, that I began to perceive the quiet yet persistent whisper of God’s call.

But this call did not thunder from the clouds. It came to me through the lived witness of the Comboni Missionaries, who dedicated their lives to living among us.  

I remember watching them walk alongside the destitute, comfort grieving mothers, educate children, advocate dignity and pray in the simple chapel at St John’s Korogocho. Through them, I encountered Christ again and again, both in the broken bread of the Eucharist and in the brokenness of our people. I realised that the mission is not primarily about doing, but about being present and attentive to the voice of God in the cries of his people.

Something began to stir deep within me: an inner urgency and an unquenchable flame. It was a call not to escape the slum, but to embrace its wounds with love. It was a call not to admire missionaries from afar, but to walk the same narrow and demanding path as them. It was a call not simply to serve, but to belong wholly and joyfully to God and his poor.

As an African son of the soil, I realised that I was not just a recipient of God’s mission, but an active agent of transformation; a brother called to uplift others through the power of Christ’s love and presence. I am a brother who is ready to light the candle of hope where hope fades, and to listen to the voiceless children of God whose dreams have been shattered and whose talents have been buried.

I longed to be a brother who brings love to places of pain, serves those in need, and shines as a light in dark places. This passion renewed my hope that God might choose me to be His vessel of mercy. I believed that the tears of the suffering would strengthen my faith. I was determined to answer a call to serve those who suffer and struggle, because my presence among them would mean a lot to them.

In May 2017, with trembling faith and a burning desire, I entered the formation house of the Comboni Missionaries.  I was sent to the Mukuru slums on the outskirts of Nairobi for my pre-postulancy placement, where I worked as a social worker. Mukuru became a school for the heart. The people’s struggles and sacred stories of survival became the fuel for my prayers and perseverance. It was there that I began to understand that serving the poor is like walking on holy ground. I realised that a call to Comboni life means being very close to the poor and the most abandoned.

In May 2018, I began my Postulancy at Layibi in Gulu, northern Uganda.  This period involved personal growth, communal living and intercultural exchange. This essential stage involved formation in the intellectual, pastoral, spiritual and human realms. I began to see that formation did not remove me from reality, but immersed me more deeply in it, preparing me not only to know Christ, but also to reflect him.

Upon returning to Kenya in May 2019, I enrolled on a Bachelor of Arts in Sustainable Human Development course at Tangaza University. This was not just an academic qualification; it was also a vocational tool. The Brothers’ vocation calls us to evangelise through not only catechesis, but also works of mercy, justice, innovation and human development. It is through our hands and hearts that we convey the Gospel.

On 20 August 2022, I embarked on the novitiate experience in Namugongo, Uganda, the most sacred and intense phase of initial formation. This period involved deep inner conversion, attentive listening to God, studying the Comboni charism, and embracing the demands of the three evangelical counsels: poverty, chastity and obedience.

The novitiate taught me that being a Brother is not about being less than a priest; rather, it is about becoming exactly what God wants you to be. It means becoming a visible sign of fraternity, a bridge of communion and a minister of God’s tenderness. On 11 May 2024, I professed my first vows as a Comboni Brother, filled with great joy and trust in God. This was a significant moment in my life, as it was such a unique experience that helped me embrace new opportunities.

I am currently based at the Comboni International Brothers Centre in Nairobi, where I am studying for a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). You might ask why I chose an MBA. Because, in today’s world, the mission demands more than a good heart; it requires good planning. As Brothers, we are often entrusted with development projects, training programmes and administrative roles.

This academic journey is teaching me to combine faith with professionalism, charity with competence, and spirituality with strategic leadership. This is not a detour from the mission, but the mission itself. Every skill I acquire aims to serve Christ better among the poor and ensure that our missions are sustainable, accountable and transformative.