Calls for tolerance, inclusion at Kenya's 'great moment of joy'

The history of Nyeri, the story of the heroes of Kenya and the spirit of mercy converged at the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology grounds where the world witnessed a historic fete for the Catholic Church on Saturday.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, his Deputy William Ruto, retired President Mwai Kibaki, Cabinet Secretaries, Senators, Governors and their deputies, MPs and members of the county assemblies joined two cardinals, the apostolic nuncio, 28 bishops and hundreds of priests and nuns for the beatification of Sister Irene Stefani ‘Nyaatha’ who died over eight decades ago.

The head of the Catholic Church in Kenya, John Cardinal Njue presided over the event attended by tens of thousands of people from all over the world.
For the first time in a long time, the church ceremony was not sullied with partisan politics which colours weekend church functions, because this time the leaders chose to celebrate the life and times of Sr Stefani – who was proclaimed ‘Blessed’, and is just a step away from sainthood.

However, the shame of exclusion in politics, and lingering threat of political and ethnic divisions in the country gnawed at Cardinal Njue, who chose to dedicate the mass to unity and peace.
“We need that harmony, we need that peace.

Let’s pray for our leaders so that they can guide Kenyans on that path and keep them together,” said Cardinal Njue as he opened the mass.
When he came to preach, shortly after the reading of the day’s gospel, the Cardinal reminded the congregation that the time had come to “accept one another”.

In a country where tribal passions can spark on the blink of an eye, this was a three-pronged plea to tone down on the political, ethnic and religious tension.

Cardinal Njue termed the fete a “great moment of joy” as he rallied the country’s youth to “open their ears” and steer clear of radical preachings, which the Government has pinpointed as a long-standing terror threat.

“It is not the places we come from that matter; what matters is, who we are, because that is how we become instruments of peace,” said the Cardinal.
For President Kenyatta, his deputy Ruto, their predecessor Kibaki, and Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua, Senator Mutahi Kagwe, the beatification was simply a lesson for the nation to learn about humility, the power of mercy and the beauty of love.

“This is a lesson that it is not about governments. This is a single individual who began the process of changing communities, bringing peace and bringing people together,” President Kenyatta began his address.

He vowed to make sure that freedom of worship in the country is protected.

“Kenya is a country that respects all religions. There’s no faith that is superior to another. This country will continue to protect and preserve the right to worship.

We will not be intimidated by a few individuals who want to dictate to others. I expect all religions to be tolerant to each other,” he said.

Governor Gachagua reminded the country that Nyeri is home of the late Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai, the outgoing military chief Julius Karangi and other top civil servants. The Deputy President also took that line to recall that it is in the same county that the current Queen of England, Elizabeth II, ascended to the throne in 1952.

Kibaki, who was loudly cheered when his presence was announced, added that the thousands of visitors from all over the world had to spend a day or two in Nyeri to savour the ambience, the tourist attractions and hospitality of the locals.

“We are happy here commemorating this great day, so if you spend one or two more days here, it will be wonderful and we’ll be very happy to entertain you,” said the retired President who hails from Othaya, in the same county.
It was somewhat unsettling for some when Ruto referred to a “prince” becoming “queen”, in reference to Queen Elizabeth, and got the year when Princess Elizabeth became Queen, wrong. But the Deputy President had a message for the people of Nyeri, and a promise to the people of Kenya, that the Jubilee administration will make provision of decent healthcare a priority.

When the four-hour ceremony ended, the President, accompanied by his wife First Lady Margaret, left the venue for a quick political function at Nyeri town. The crowd cheered, clapped and ululated as the pair, with a phalanx of elite guards, and a retinue of top officials walked on to their top-of-the-range cars.

The National Youth Service servicemen, police recruits, policemen on horseback for crowd control, others in plain clothes, and dozens of Administration Police officers with batons and guns kept the roads clear for the country’s VIP to leave the venue named after the country’s freedom fighter Dedan Kimathi.