The Superior General of the Comboni, Fr Teresino Serra, issued a statement expressing support for Fr Renato Kizito, an Italian Comboni missionary being accused of sexually abusing children in Kenya, where he has served for over 20 years.

Fr. Serra recalled Kizito's "great devotion" to the missions. He expressed the congregation's closeness to Fr Kizito "in this time of trial."

According to the magazine Mondo e Missione, published by the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, Fr Sesana has been the target of "a defamation campaign begun by the privately owned Kenya Television Network (KTN), which has accused the priest of abusing children," Fr. Serra said.

Former students of the Kivuli Centre founded by Fr Kizito said" "Many of us have gone through the rehabilitation program at Kivuli and we wish to clearly state that the accusations are baseless and extremely malicious."

The Koinonia Association of Rome, which provides financial assistance, for Fr Kizito's projects, said the accusations against the priest were inexplicable and that his works in Kenya have done great good.

Young people from the Nafsi Africa Acrobats, another initiative started by Fr Kizito, sent a statement to the Kenyan media saying they felt "proud and motivated by his generous efforts" in support of those most in need and that they would continue to support him and to protest the network's defamatory reporting.

Police are investigating the allegations against the priest.