No to Tribalism, Yes to Discipline, Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya Recalls Cardinal Otunga’s Virtues on Death Anniversary

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The Dutch-born Vatican diplomat said that he finds it regrettable that tribalism and ethnic strife are still widespread even after their being vehemently denounced by the late Kenya’s first native Catholic Bishop and Cardinal and further lamented that the vices have also found their way into the Church.

“We still have the same problem in society, but also within the Church; we feel it within the Dioceses; we feel it within the Religious Congregations in many ways,” Archbishop Van Megan said in his September 6 remarks.

The Vatican diplomat recalled that the Kenyan Servant of God also spoke against the vices of indiscipline, disobedience, and arrogance including among Clergy and members of ICLSAL.

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“He, who himself had been very disciplined, he, who himself had been very obedient, had done things that many of us would probably have refused. But out of his humility, he decided to accept it,” he recalled.

Archbishop Van Megan further recalled that the Servant of God was “so logical and evident to be an obedient son of the Church. For many of his own Priests and Religious, that was truly not the case.”

There was also a lot of arrogance among ICLSAL members, the Dutch-born Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya, following his appointment in February 2019, also recalled the situation of the Servant of God, who, following his Priestly Ordination in October 1950 had a notably quick elevation from Priest, to Kenya’s first native Bishop, Archbishop and Cardinal, and on the cause to Sainthood.  

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Archbishop Van Megan also noted that the Servant of God often had to confront a sense of entitlement among the Clergy and members of ICLSAL, adding that the Church must continue to “combat lack of discipline and lack of humility” wherever they feature among her members.

Declared “Servant of God” in 2010, Cardinal Otunga’s cause of Sainthood is in the Roman Phase, which involves the examination and verification of documents (evidence) submitted by the petitioner, the Local Ordinary of ADN.

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The documents are examined by a group of theologians and reviewed by another group of experts. If the review is favourable, the documents are submitted to the Holy Father for approval and subsequent issuance of a Papal decree confirming the virtuous life of the candidate to whom he confers the title, “Venerable”.

In his remarks on September 6, the Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya advocated for “leadership in serving” over and above “servant leadership”.

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He noted that many Nairobi-based Catholic institutions of higher learning offer the course “Servant Leadership”, which he observed has attracted many Clergy and women and men Religious.

Archbishop van Megen remarked, “If Cardinal Otunga were here, he probably would introduce a course, ‘Leadership in Serving’”.

“We need to come to a Church that is truly a servant of the Lord,” he said, and added, “We try to follow in those footsteps of Cardinal Otunga, who lived a life of sacrifice.”

For the Servant of God, the Vatican diplomat recalled, “it was never about himself; it was always about the others and Christ Himself in the first place. We continue following, once again, in the footsteps of Cardinal Otunga.”

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For Archbishop van Megen, “The Church really needs us to be leaders in serving. And then a few of us can even be servants in leadership.”

“Let us work on a Church that really wants to serve,” he appealed, and explained, “It's not about me. It's not about who I am. It's not even about my qualities. It's not about my merits. It's about being a servant of the Lord, as Cardinal Otunga was and still is, because, as was also mentioned here, he is still praying for us.”

“That's the beauty of a Saint, because I believe he is a Saint, even though he has not been canonized as yet; he is serving us even today, because of that humility, that simplicity he always kept; he always wanted to be at the feet of the Lord,” Archbishop Van Megan said about the Servant of God, who passed on 6 September 2003 at the age of 80.

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According to his will, Cardinal Otunga was laid to rest at St. Austin’s Msongari cemetery. However, in August 2005, his remains were exhumed and reinterred at Resurrection Garden, where a memorial chapel in his honor is built.

Also speaking at the September 6 event at Resurrection Garden, Cardinal Otunga’s nephew, Simon Wanyonyi, recalled that his uncle lived a reflective and prayerful life.

Mr. Simon Wanyonyi, Cardinal Otunga's Nephew, speaking during the 22nd death anniversary on Saturday, September 6, at Resurrection Garden. Credit: ACI Africa

“Sometimes I could see him pacing up and down on the veranda of his sitting room. I think he was reading a Roman Missal,” Mr. Wanyonyi, who had been given a room at the servant quarters in Cardinal Otunga’s residence, recalled.

Recalling his conversations with the Servant of God, he said about his uncle, “With a deep conviction, he really believed in eternity.”

On his part, the Chairman of the Kenyan committee spearheading the cause of Sainthood of the Servant of God recalled his humility, which he said was exemplified even after his retirement in April 1997, when he chose to stay with the elderly at Nyumba ya Wazee (House of the aged).

The Chairman of the Kenyan committee spearheading the cause of Sainthood of the Servant of God Cardinal Otunga, Fr. Peter Kaigua. Credit: ACI Africa.

“When he lived with his peers, the old people, he stood out as a pilgrim of hope, even in those days. He stayed as a Priest, a simple Cardinal Priest; He celebrated the Eucharist with his peers, the old people,” Fr. Peter Kaigua recalled.

The Servant of God, Fr. Kaigua, further recalled, “observed his Divine Office, and you would go and find him praying the Divine mercy. He prayed the Rosary often and encouraged many visitors to love God and to serve Him.”

“As a young Priest in 2002, he told me this: Young man, serve the people of God when you are strong. My only pastoral work remaining in this world is praying for you,” the Kenyan Clergy of ADN said during the September 6 Memorial Mass.

He added, “We continue seeking his prayers and intercessions, and especially that we may remain steadfast within the Church of the Lord.”