At a dinner held on May 29, Archbishop of Nairobi, Bishop Philip Anyolo, exhorted Catholics to pray “intentionally” for a miracle to enable the beatification of Cardinal Maurice Otunga, servant of God and first cardinal of Kenya. The prelate emphasized that, beyond asking for a supernatural sign, the faithful are called to emulate the virtues that marked the life of the cardinal.
Call to imitation of virtues
“I want to ask you to imitate the values of Cardinal Otunga. Imitate them. The deepest response to a holy legacy is imitation,” said Archbishop Anyolo, who began his episcopal ministry in February 1996 as bishop of the diocese of Kericho, Kenya. The Catholic leader highlighted that the Church proposes saints as models of Christian life, offering “practical examples of how to live the Gospel in the modern and current context.”
Radical simplicity as testimony
Among the virtues noted, the archbishop highlighted the simplicity of life of Cardinal Otunga. “Radical simplicity, as lived by Cardinal Otunga, is one of the things we can embrace, intentionally cutting back on materialism and pride in our personal and professional lives,” he explained. He also recalled the servant of God’s commitment to peace and reconciliation, especially in a context of political and tribal polarization in Kenya.
Marian devotion and spreading the legacy
Archbishop Anyolo also highlighted Cardinal Otunga’s devotion to the Virgin Mary, encouraging Catholics to strengthen their prayer life through the Holy Rosary and regular prayer for his beatification. In addition, he called for greater efforts to share the cardinal’s story in families, parishes, and educational institutions, especially among young people. “We want to ask that, together with our committee and the committees of all parish priests and pastors, we emphasize and strengthen this aspect, sharing this story in families, in parishes, and especially in institutions,” he said.
Progress in the beatification cause
The cause for canonization of Cardinal Otunga began in 2009, when the then Archbishop of Nairobi, Cardinal John Njue, requested the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints to open the process. The request was approved and Cardinal Otunga was declared a servant of God in 2010. Currently, his cause is in the Roman phase, during which the Vatican examines and verifies the documentation presented. If beatified and later canonized, Cardinal Otunga would become the first native Catholic saint of Kenya.
Original source: www.aciafrica.org (published on May 31, 2026)
Photo: Michael Odida on Unsplash
