German-born OFM Priest, Award-winning Environmentalist in Kenya, To Be Laid to Rest Thursday, July 10

He founded MEN to “raise awareness among stakeholders while at the same time building their capacity in tree planting and environmental conservation and management.”

Born in December 1943 in Germany and ordained OFM Priest in 1971, the late Fr. Hermann was commissioned to Lower Subukia in Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Nakuru, when he arrived in the East African nation in 1983. There, he recognized ecological gaps and spearheaded reforestation initiatives through tree-planting drives.

The late Fr. Hermann’s initiatives resulted in the planting of more than one million trees in Subukia valley, the revitalization of water catchment areas, and improvement of soil fertility in the Kenyan region.

In July 2017, the Kenyan government recognized the late Fr. Hermann’s environmental conservation initiatives, including him among the 54 recipients of the Kenya Forest Service’s (KFS) “Unsung Hero” award for “planting 1 million trees in the Subukia Valley over 20 years ago.”

The award was given by the then Kenyan First Lady, Margaret Kenyatta, who reportedly congratulated the 54 awardees for their efforts in safeguarding creation, and their initiatives that appreciate the genuine potential of forests through afforestation and reforestation.

She has also been quoted as saying, “This ceremony will remind us that we are all dependant on the environment and that the role our ancestors have played in the past, the role we play today, and the role our children will play in the future is extremely vital to our human survival.”

Some five years later, the late Fr. Hermann’s passion for ecological conservation was recognized and received an award from Kenya’s National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) for championing environmental conservation.

The July 2022 Certificate of Recognition and trophy recognized the late Fr. Hermann’s initiatives in local communities in care for God’s creation.  

MEN, the late Fr. Hermann’s initiative, was also awarded three trophies by NEMA, reportedly aimed at inspiring the 5,000 school children in attention to participate in environmental competition in learning institutions to be given during environment conservation events.

The OFM Priest who inspired Clergy, women and men Religious, Catholic Laity and non-Christians to participate in the care of God’s creation is remembered for collaborating with the Kenyan Ministry of Education. He introduced Mother Earth Club in learning institutions to incorporate youths in environmental conservation.

The late Fr. Hermann is quoted as saying, “What motivates me is seeing schools in the area setting up tree nurseries with an intent of increasing tree cover. There is hope if the young generation takes up the responsibility to conserve the environment."

The late Fr. Hermann also received awards from Total Eco Challenge and United Religion Initiative – Africa for his environmental stewardship initiatives through MEN.

Requiem Mass for the late Fr. Hermann has planned at Holy Family Minor Basilica of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN) has been scheduled for Wednesday, July 9 at 10 a.m.

Other activities of the day at Holy Family Minor Basilica include Farewell speeches and body viewing and last respects ahead of departure for Lower Subukia in Nakuru Diocese.

Activities of Thursday, July 10 at the Franciscan Friary of Lower Subukia will begin with Body Viewing and Last Respects scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., farewell speeches followed by Funeral Mass at St. Francis Lower Subukia Parish from 10 a.m. and burial at noon local time.

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Below is the poem that Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Anne (FSSA) composed in appreciating the late Fr. Hermann’s initiatives, which a section of Franciscans sang on their Family Day 2 September 2017.

The whole world is crying, the climate is changing,

The whole world is crying, seasons are erratic,

Mother Earth is speaking, through the global warming,

Mother Earth is speaking, and the sky never gives hope 

The whole world is crying, the climate is changing,

The whole world is crying, seasons are erratic,

Mother Earth is speaking, through the global warming,

Mother Earth is speaking, and the sky never gives hope

(Ooooooh) We thank you, thank you, Father Hermann

(Ooooooh) We thank you for the good work.

(Ooooooh) We thank you for the Spirit,

to change the face of the earth.

The trees that you have planted, be sure will bear much fruit

Environs of Kenya will change, applause to Fr. Hermann. X 2

Your motivation began thirty years down the line,

Your motivation began way back in Subukia,

In the bare and barren grounds, your efforts brought new life

In the bare and barren grounds, a transformative scenery

In the (letter) Laudato Si’, Pope Francis raises a question,

That if we all not care, conserving ecology

Then what kind of a world, for future generation

Then what kind of a world, for those behind us?

As a lover of nature, Fr. Hermann, you are great

As a lover of nature, a lot you have done

A hero of our time, caretaker of Mother Earth

A hero of our time, your name “Baba Miti”.