NAKURU DIOCESE’S FIRST PRIEST AT THE THRESHOLD OF HIS GOLDEN JUBILEE

 

By Rev. Fr. Casmir Odundo, Kibet

 

“Still bearing fruits when they are old; still full of sap, still green…” (Psalm 92: 14)

One of the great milestones for any priest…I know because I am a priest…is the celebration of the Golden Jubilee Anniversary of Priestly Ordination. 

Well, Nakuru diocese’s first priest Most Rev. Peter Joseph Kairu is exactly one year shy of this momentous event. Today is the 8th Day of November, exactly 49 years ago, Bishop Peter Joseph Kairo, was ordained into the Holy Priesthood in his home parish, St. Mary’s Molo by the then Bishop of Machakos Rt. Rev. Ndingi Mwana’ a’ Nzeki.

Nakuru Diocese was erected as a diocese on 11^th January 1968. The diocese remained without a Bishop till on 30^th August 1971 when Bishop Ndingi, previously the Bishop of Machakos was appointed by Pope Paul VI as the Bishop of Nakuru. It was during this period of Sede Vacante that he was ordained a priest.

Reflecting on his priestly ordination, the Prelate considers it as part of the Divine plan. 

“The auxiliary Bishop of Eldoret, Bishop Emilio Njeru had earlier been approached by the Apostolic Administrator, Fr. Denis Newman, to ordain me a priest. However, on 5^th of September 1970, exactly two months before the date of my priestly ordination, when driving near his hometown of Kevote Embu, Bishop Njeru hit an unmarked stationery lorry in bad light and died. It was an accident that not only robbed the Kenyan church of a great shepherd but nearly put off my ordination. However, after the burial of the Bishop, a second option was sought and Fr. Newman asked Bishop Ndingi, then the Bishop of Machakos, if he could come to Molo and ordain me.”

And Bishop Ndingi of Machakos came to Molo to ordain Deacon Kairo a priest. Back then, no one thought that Bishop Ndingi of Machakos, would be in a couple of months appointed the first Bishop of Nakuru. Another fact that makes this ordination special was that, it was also Bishop Ndingi’s very first. Fr. Kairo (his future vicar general and later successor) would be the very first priest he ordained.

Archbishop Emeritus, Peter Joseph Kairo was born on 24^th May 1941, first born into a family of four sons and five daughters, children of Daniel Muraya (RIP, 2009) and Theresia Muringe (RIP, 2017). He studied at St. Peter’s Primary School Elburgon and Mother of Apostles Minor Seminary, Moi’s Bridge (Hoey’s Bridge). He studied Philosophy and Theology in St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Nairobi.

As a priest he worked at Holy Rosary Parish, Nakuru. Later he was sent by Bishop Ndingi to St. John Fischer College in Rochester, New York in the USA where he graduated with a B.A degree in Religious Studies. After further studies he served as the Diocesan Education Secretary, Lay Apostolate Coordinator, and Vocations Director. In 1976 he was seconded to St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Nairobi as a Spiritual Director, where he served until 1981. In January 1982, he was appointed Administrator of Christ the King Cathedral in Nakuru and Vicar General of the Diocese of Nakuru.

On 17^th March 1983 (St. Patrick’s Day), he was appointed by Pope John Paul II as the first Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Murang’a, which was hived off from the Archdiocese of Nyeri. He was ordained Bishop of Murangá on 21^st May 1983 by H.E Archbishop Clemente Faccani, the Apostolic Nuncio; assisted by Bishop Caesar Maria Gatimu of Nyeri and Bishop R.S. Ndingi Mwana a’ Nzeki of Nakuru.

After 14 solid years in Muranga, On 21^st April 1997 at the age of 55, Pope John Paul II appointed him the Bishop of his native Diocese – Nakuru. He took possession of the diocese in August the same year. He served in Nakuru for 11 years.  On 19^th April 2008 at the age of 67, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Archbishop of Nyeri, following the death of Archbishop Nicodemus Kirima and the transfer of Archbishop Njue to Nairobi.  He was installed Archbishop of Nyeri on 14^th June 2008 at Ruring’u Stadium in Nyeri.

He served as the Archbishop of Nyeri for over 8 years until on 23^rd April 2017, when his resignation (upon attaining the retirement age of 75 years for Bishops/Archbishops) was accepted. He was succeeded by Bishop Anthony Muheria, formerly the Bishop of Kitui. Archbishop Kairo was among the Bishops who represented KEC during the Second Synod for Africa in Rome.

Archbishop Kairo (Standing) during the Installation of  Archbishop Muheria as the new Archbishop of Nyeri

His Episcopal Motto both for Nakuru and Nyeri was, “Peace, Amani.” A motto that reflected his personality. As Bishop of Nakuru he was also generous especially to seminarians, “Every holiday he would bring all the clothes, shoes, etc. gifts that were given to him and he would share those with us.” Commented a priest who was a senior seminarian during his time.

In his retirement he has continued to assist the new Archbishop of Nyeri, Most. Rev. Antony Muheria as well as other KCCB bishops. He has also availed himself to preach several retreats. He has hinted at his intention of writing a book.

Archbishop Kairu is a man of God with many firsts. He is the first priest ordained for Nakuru Diocese. He is also the first priest to be ordained by Bishop Ndingi. He is also the first priest of Nakuru to be elevated to a Bishop. Again, he is the first Bishop of Muranga. He was the Archbishop of Nyeri, at the historic moment during the very first beatification ceremony in Kenyan soil i.e the Beatifiacation of Blessed Irene Stephanie, which happeed in Dedan Kimathi University grounds in Nyeri Archdiocese. 

Already, many Christians particularly from his home area, in Molo are eagerly awaiting his Golden Jubilee and preparations for the same are already in the pipeline. 

We wish the Archbishop Emeritus, all the best in his apostolic service.

The author is Parochial Vicar: Mary Mother of God Parish, Kabarnet, Catholic Diocese of Nakuru.

Email: casmirthomas28@gmail.com