Nyeri road to be named after beatified sister Irene Stefani Nyaatha

The Nyeri County government will name a road after Blessed Sister Irene Stefani Nyaatha, who was beatified on Saturday.

Governor Nderitu Gachagua said the move aimed to honour the late nun who died in 1930 after a 15-year stint at Gikondi Catholic Parish.

"We are humbled by the actions of Sister Nyaatha, which have caused the world to recognise her 85 years later. We are committed to honouring her by naming a road within Nyeri town after her in recognition of her humility, love and good deeds," Mr Gachagua said.

The governor said the beatification of Sister Nyaatha had given Nyeri "a complete facelift," noting that the State event saw Sh131 million worth of street lights installed in Nyeri and roads carpeted in the countdown to the ceremony.

"We are ready to sit with Archbishop Peter Kairo of Nyeri Catholic Archdiocese to discuss which road we should dedicate to the late missionary. Her mission in Gikondi saw many lives saved and children educated, and that is why the world trooped to Nyeri to honour her," he said.

more lighting

The governor dismissed claims that the streetlights would be brought down following the beatification ceremony, noting that the county government would instead extend the lighting programme to Mweiga, Othaya, Mukurweini and Naru Moru towns.

"We thank our President, Uhuru Kenyatta, for his indulgence and for committing the national government to beautify Nyeri town. The lights in Nyeri town will not be removed as rumours are suggesting. Instead, we have committed ourselves to ensuring that other neighbouring towns benefit from the lighting programme," he said.

On Saturday, President Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto unveiled the lighting programme shortly after attending the beatification mass at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.

"The governor came to us and appealed for help to give Nyeri a facelift and we did what we could to chip in," said President Kenyatta on Saturday. "I want to tell him that whenever you have a problem, just come and raise it with us; we know how we can help."

Sister Stefani came to Kenya in 1915 and worked as a nurse in the British military hospital during World War I.