Cardinal Njue is alive and well: Catholic Church says

His Eminence John Cardinal Njue [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

The office of the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Nairobi has dismissed rumours that His Eminence John Cardinal Njue is dead.

Through a statement seen by TNX, Bishop Wallace Ng’ang’a said Njue is alive and well, asking the public to dismiss the ‘baseless’ reports.

“It has come to our attention that persistent rumours are circulating regarding the alleged death of His Eminence John Cardinal Njue. We wish to categorically state that these claims are entirely false and without foundation.

“His Eminence John Cardinal Njue is alive and we ask that everyone disregards these baseless rumours,” read the statement in part.

Further, the church urged the public to refrain from sharing unverified information on the matter, saying any official communication on Njue’s health would be conveyed through official channels.

Bishop Ng’ang’a asked Kenyans to continue praying for Njue and wished him good health and God’s blessings.

Bishop Simon-Peter Kamomoe and Bishop Wallace Ng'ang'a during their installation. [John Muchucha, Standard]

For the better part of Friday morning, Cardinal Njue was a top trending topic on X as many sought to know his health status.

Born on January 1, 1946, Njue was ordained a priest in 1973 by Pope Paul VI at St Peter’s Basilica and returned to Kenya the following year to carry out his pastoral duties.

In 1986 he was appointed Bishop of Embu and also served as the President of the Kenyan Episcopal Conference between 1997 and 2003.

Njue also served as the Apostolic Administrator of Isiolo from 2005 to 2006 following the murder of Bishop Luigi Locati and was later appointed Archbishop of Nairobi in 2007.

Shortly afterwards, he was created Cardinal-Priest of Preziosissimo Sangue di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo by Pope Benedict XVI in the consistory of 24 November 2007.

During his stint as Cardinal, Njue was vocal on matters family and leadership and resigned as Archbishop of Nairobi on January 4, 2021.

John Cardinal Njue [Denish Ochieng, Standard]