Cardinal John Njue in Conclave To Elect New Pope

Cardinal John Njue who heads the Catholic Church in Kenya is among 116 top priests that will participate in the conclave that will pick the new Pontiff to succeed Pope Benedict XVI.

The conclave which will comprise of 116 cardinals under the age of 80 years is set to begin its ‘voting and prayer’ sessions in the Sistine Chapel on Monday.

50 outstanding Pre & Post Independence and Second Liberation Heroes

Tomorrow Kenya marks the 49th Madaraka Day; this is after the British colonialist handed over the nation to its inhabitants on 1^st June 1963. Many Kenyans who had nationalistic ambitions and protested the rule were violently suppressed. The struggle of this Kenyans and the later generation of second liberation crusaders have made me embark on writing a list of 50 Kenyans who make tomorrow a day to celebrate.

Here is the list of 50 remarkable Pre & Post Independence and Second Liberation Kenyans

Bishop Alexander Kipsang Muge

It is twenty-two years since Bishop Muge died but many Kenyans will remember him for his efforts in championing for democracy, fight against corruption, ethnicity and land grabbing. The clergyman was born in 1948 in Nandi County and became the first bishop of Eldoret Diocese.

source: abeingo.com

He started his schooling in the Africa Inland Church Primary School at Tangaratwet before finishing elementary schooling at the Anglican Mission School. He later enrolled at the St. Phillip’s Maseno Bible School after resigning his work as a soldier.

In 1975, he was ordained a deacon at St. Stephen’s Church Jogoo Road in Nairobi and after a year, he was ordained a priest. He later served as a priest at St. Marks’s Church Westlands before leaving for London Bible School, Britain.

In 1982, he returned home after graduating with a bachelor of arts in divinity from the London Bible School. He was then appointed assistant provost of All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi.  After eleven months at All Saints Cathedral he was appointed bishop of the newly created diocese of Eldoret.

During his time in Eldoret he was appointed the chair of the Kenya Anglican Youth Organization (KAYO), a position he held until his death. He believed in the power of the pulpit to transform and reform the society.

“When Muge set out for a mission, however dangerous it was, no one, not even his family could stop him. He was a man of depth and total commitment to the cause of truth. He had faith beyond the fear of death”

p. 27 of Nicholas Otieno’s ‘Beyond the Silence of Death: Life and Theology of the Late Bishop Alexander Kipsang Muge’

Bishop Muge is also remembered on his stand open stand against homosexuality made on May 17, 1990 during a visit to the USA. He based his condemnation on classical understanding of the Scriptures.

He remained true to his cause fighting for democracy until he met his unfateful death aged 44 years in a road accident on August 14, 1990 along the Eldoret-Turbo road after a Western Kenya visit.

Sources: dacb.org

His Eminence: Cardinal Maurice Michael Otunga

He was born in Chebukwa, Kakamega County on January 31, 1923. He served as a cardinal and Archbishop emeritus of Nairobi and Military Ordinary emeritus for Kenya.

 

A former alumnus of Mangu High School, he acquired training from the Kakamega seminary and studied theology at Propaganda Fide College. He was ordained a priest in 1950 at the Pontifical Urban University.