NAIROBI NOVEMBER 25, 2016(CISA) – The Nairobi City County and the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi have launched a road named after Servant of God (SOG) Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga in Nairobi.
“May this street always prompt us to emulate Cardinal Otunga exemplary life of prayerfulness and humility. May his intercession merit the city of Nairobi forever,” said John Cardinal Njue archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi November 23 during the launch of the road.
The road connects City Hall Annex and The Holy Family Minor Basilica.
“I wish to sincerely thank the government of Nairobi under the leadership of Dr Evans Kidero for naming a section of this street after the Servant of God Maurice Michael cardinal Otunga. This street will forever strengthen our memories of the Servant of God,” said Cardinal Njue,
He noted that naming of the road was not just a memory but will help continue to “speak to Nairobians and indeed to all Kenyans through his virtues of courage, good cheer, and care and concern for others.”
Cardinal Njue further urged the faithful to pray for the intercession of the Servant of God to enable him become a saint.
“Servant of God Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga is a moral icon. I request for your prayers to enable him become a saint,” said Cardinal Njue.
He urged the faithful during the ceremony to learn to live the faith from Servant of God prayerfulness and humility.
Speaking during the same event, Nairobi governor Dr Evans Kidero lauded SOG Maurice Cardinal Otunga’s simplicity and service to the church and others as the reason for naming a street after him.
“We take cognisant that Servant of God Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga was and is still a spiritual hero. When it came to recognizing heroes it wasn’t a difficult choice because Cardinal Otunga touched so many lives in his simplicity,” said Dr Kidero.
“When you talk about kindness, humility, caring, making a difference, the very least we could do was to name the road that surround the City Hall after Cardinal Otunga. It was our pleasure,” he added.
Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga served as the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi between 1971 and 1997.
He was born in Chebukwa in the Catholic diocese of Kakamega in 1923 and died in 2003 at the age of 80.