The Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi has addressed reports stating that former Nairobi Catholic Church Archbishop Cardinal John Njue is dead.
Reports circulating on social media indicated that Cardinal John Njue, who was the fourth Archbishop of Nairobi Catholic Church from 6 October 2007 to 4 January 2021, died on September 27.
Njue previously served as Coadjutor Archbishop of Nyeri from 2002 to 2007 and Bishop of Embu from 1986 to 2002. He was elevated to the rank of cardinal in 2007.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi has however confirmed to The Kenya Times that the reports are fake.
Further, the office later issued an official statement confirming that the cardinal is alive.
“It has come to our attention that persistent rumors are circulating regarding the alleged death of His Eminence John Cardinal Njue. We wish to categorically state that these claims are entirely false and without foundation.
His Eminence John Cardinal Njue is alive, and we ask that everyone disregards these baseless rumors,” said the Archdiocese.
“We kindly urge all to refrain from sharing or entertaining unverified information, particularly on sensitive matters such as this.”
At the same time, the Archdiocese said that should there be any official communication regarding Njue’s health or any other matter, it will be conveyed through official Church channels.
Reports of Cardinal’s death
Kenyans have been asked to continue praying for Cardinal Njue, with the church wishing him continued good health and blessings.
Earlier, Catholic priest Father Charles Kinyua of Nairobi had also dispelled the reports of Cardinal’s death, urging Kenyans to avoid spreading false information.
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Cardinal Njue was born in present day Embu County on 1 January 1946 and was ordained as a priest by Pope Paul VI on 6 January 1973.
He holds a doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical Urbaniana University and a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Lateran University.
In 1974 he was appointed philosophy professor and dean of students at St. Augustine Senior Seminary, Mabanga in Bungoma, of which he was also rector from 1978 to 1982.
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Cardinal Njue was in 1982 appointed to Chuka Parish as its first African parish priest.
He then served as rector of St. Joseph’s Philosophicum Seminary in Nairobi until his appointment on 9 June 1986 as the first Bishop of Embu.
Cardinal John Njue rise to the top
In addition, the cleric was ordained bishop on 20 September of that year and then coadjutor Archbishop of Nyeri on 23 January 2002.
From 2005-2006, he was Apostolic Administrator of the Vicariate of Isiolo. He was also Apostolic Administrator of the diocese of Murang’a (2006-2009).
During his ministerial days, Njue has been chairman of various commissions, such as the Episcopal commission for major seminaries in Kenya and the Kenya Episcopal Conference’s Justice and Peace Commission.
From 2006 to 2015 he was president of the Kenya Episcopal Conference.
He participated in the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (October 2014) on The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization.
Also, he participated in the XIV Ordinary General Assembly on The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World (October 2015), and the conclave of March 2013, which elected Pope Francis.
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