NAIROBI, MARCH 31, 2020 (CISA)-Most Rev. Raphael S. Ndingi Mwana a’Nzeki, Archbishop emeritus of the Archdiocese of Nairobi has died aged 89.
“A sombre morning as His Eminence John Cardinal Njue has announced the passing on of His Grace Archbishop Emeritus Raphael Ndingi Mwana a’Nzeki. Let us pray for the repose of his soul,” the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday March 31.
“It is with humble acceptance of God’s will that we announce the passing on of Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Nairobi, Most Rev. Raphael Ndingi Mwana a’Nzeki, which occurred last night at Clergy Home of the Archdiocese of Nairobi, and confirmed at the Mater Hospital, due to old age” reads a March 31 statement from the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The statement written and signed by Fr Daniel Rono, the Secretary General of the KCCB on behalf of Archbishop Philip Anyolo, chairman of the bishops’ conference expressed condolences to the arcrhdiocese of Nairobi, and called for prayers for the repose of the soul of the late archbishop.
The late Arcbishop Ndingi was born in Mwala Machakos on December 25, 1931. He was ordained a priest for the Catholic Diocese of Nairobi on Jan 31 1961 at the age of 29. He was appointed Bishop of Machakos on May 29 1969 and ordained on August 1, 1969 in Uganda by Pope Paul VI during his Apostolic Visit to Africa.
On August 30, 1971 he was apponted bishop of Nakuru, and on June 14 1996 appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Nairobi. On April 21 1997 he succeeded the late Maurice Cardinal Otunga of Nairobi.
He retired from the archdiocese on October 6, 2007 at the age of 75. He will be remembered as a fearless leader who called out the government of the day on human rights violations and social injustices, and for fiercely supporting and speaking out for victims of tribal clashes of 1992 and consecutive years in the Rift Valley.
