Artefacts found at Sister Nyaatha’s house

Nyeri, Kenya: Two pieces of wood and a water gate valve have been found at Sister Nyaatha’s house in Mukurweini, Nyeri County.

Volunteers from Rhino Watch Lodge in Nyeri excavated the artifacts while renovating Nyaatha’s house that stood at a Catholic Parish in Mukurweini.

Ms Miriam Kinge, the lodge’s manager said the wood was buried in a heap of soil, about one-metre deep under the nun’s house floor.

“It struck us as a surprise. But it was exciting to discover that a piece of timber that had been buried under heaps of soil for more than 70 years can still be found intact,” said Kinge.

She added that her team discovered the artefacts, which were preserved by Consolata Sisters in the Archdiocese on Thursday afternoon.

“We asked the Catholic church what we can do as part of our corporate social responsibility and they asked us to help in landscaping and tracing the foundation of her former house,” she said.

And as the lodge’s staff were working, they discovered the two-metre long wood, which they suspected could have been used in building the semi-permanent house where Nyaatha lived.

They also excavated a metallic pipe and water gate valve that led to the house, among other pieces of metals.

Father Peter Githinji, the coordinator of the Beatification said the items will be preserved, while the former residence will be turned into a museum.

Sister Nyaatha passed away in 1930, 15 years after arriving at Gikondi where she helped treat the sick. Between May 22 and May 24, Sister Nyaatha will be beatified into Vulnerable, according to Catholic Church faith.