ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS NDINGI MWANA A' NZEKI: NAKURU'S FIRST BISHOP

 Fr. Casmir Odundo 

Early Years

Bishop Raphael Simon Ndingi Mwana a’ Nzeki was born in Mwala Division of Machakos District on Christmas day, 25th December 1931.  Being the last born in a family of 5 children of Mzee Ngila Nzeki and Mama Maria Muthoki. 

He attended local schools at Minyanyani, Kabaa and Etikoni. In 1946, he was admitted in the Minor Seminary in Kabaa where he studied Form One and Two before proceeding to Kilimambogo Teachers College for a further two years (1948 – 1950) from where he graduated as a P3 teacher.  

As a teacher, he taught in the newly opened Minor Seminary in Kiserian under Nairobi Archdiocese.

From 1953 to 1956, he studied philosophy in Tanganyika (Kibosho Senior Seminary – in Moshi) and later in Morogoro Senior Seminary for Theological studies.  These were in preparation to Priesthood.

He was ordained a Priest at Kabaa Parish on the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, on 1st January 1961 by Archbishop J. J. McCarthy (CSSp), making history by becoming the first Roman Catholic Priest to be ordained from the Kamba Community.

The young Fr. Ndingi first served in Nairobi – in Madaraka Parish and later St. Peter Claver Parish.  He was also responsible for Education in Kiambu District before being transferred to Tala Mission in Machakos. 

As a Young Priest, Bishop Ndingi got permission to complete his Secondary School Certificate. In 1964, he sat for his Cambridge school Certificate (O Level) as a Private Candidate.  He Served in the Kenya Catholic Secretariat as the Education Secretary between 1965 and 1966.  He was later awarded Scholarship to study History and Political Science at St. John Fischer College in Rochester NY USA where in 1969 he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Political Science.  The same college would later award him an Honorary Doctorate in Law in 1996.

Appointment as a Bishop

On 29th May 1969, he made history again, when he was appointed as the first Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Machakos and the first Bishop from the Kamba Community. He got a letter notifying him of this appointment while going about his duties at the St. John Fischer College in New York. He was among the 12 Priests raised to Episcopacy by Pope Paul VI in Kampala Uganda, on 1st August 1969.

First Bishop of Machakos

He served as the pioneer Bishop of Machakos. In the words of his friend and contemporary: The Late Archbishop Emeritus John Njenga,“Ndingi served as a Bishop of Machakos when the Church was just beginning to take root and when African priests were just beginning to minister to their peoples.” Perhaps one of the greatest living legacies that Ndingi left in the Diocese of Machakos can be felt in the numerous vocations to the priesthood and religious life from.

First Bishop of Nakuru

Barely two years later, Ndingi made history again as he was appointed the First Bishop of Nakuru. The diocese of Nakuru had been erected on 11 January 1968 Sede Vacante. Fr. Dennis Newman was holding brief as the administrator pending the appointment of a Bishop.

The news of Ndingi's transfer to Nakuru brought mixed reactions. While the Christians of Nakuru were happy that they finally had a bishop there were protests in Machakos. These protests dominated the newspapers and magazines at the time. According to Fr. Sean McGovern (CSSp), then a Priest working in the Diocese of Machakos; “Most of the Christians in Machakos wished he would remain their Bishop and to express their displeasure, some of them went to present their grievances to the then Apostolic pro-Nuncio, Archbishop Perluigi Sartorelli in Nairobi.” The Apostolic Pro-Nuncio, speaking in Latin responded to them with the famous maxim, “Eos libere nominat Pontifex Romanus.” To mean, “The pope freely nominates bishops.”

The new Bishop met with the Consultors of the Diocese of Nakuru at Lanet on 31st December 1971 and legally took possession of the Diocese.

Later he met with all priests. Fr. Brian Treacy remembers fondly this first meeting with the Bishop Designate of Nakuru. “We were very impressed by him. He was very young looking. He told us that he wishes that the priests take the financial burden off his shoulders, and that he would merely be comfortable with a small allowance.”

Installation

Installation of Bishop Ndingi in Nakuru

While it is common today for thousands of Christians to accompany and escort their bishop once he has been appointed to another See, the case was different for Bishop Ndingi. “He came alone” commented the late Fr. Conor Molony. Nobody from Machakos eventually accompanied Bishop Ndingi for his installation as the Bishop in Nakuru. He drove himself all the way to Nakuru. Perhaps this was due to the initial protests in Machakos.

The installation happened on 30th January 1972 at Afraha Stadium. An estimated 20,000 people packed the stadium. According to Fr. Michael McCarthy, the number could even have been bigger.

Three months after he was installed Bishop of Nakuru, Bishop Ndingi’s Mother passed away on 27th March 1972. A few years later, on 6th March 1976, Bishop Ndingi’s father died. He was bishop of Nakuru for almost quarter a century. During these years, he did a lot. He built a new cathedral and renovated it when it needed major renovations. He also set up a minor seminary. He opened up many parishes. He was instrumental in the setting up of Kericho diocese as a separate jurisdiction from Nakuru. He also ordained more than 70 diocesan priests for the diocese.

Indeed, a good number of senior diocesan priests in Nakuru (Including the First one Archbishop Peter Kairo)  have received the gift of sacred order of priesthood from Ndingi’s venerable hands. As a consequence, the priests greatly respected and venerated their bishop. Bishop Ndingi on his part loved and respected all his priests. “I will support my priests,” he often said. He tried to help them in the best way he could, not to compromise their sacred pledge and performance. Fr. Prof. Peter Gichure summed it up thus; “To us priests, Bishop Ndingi was both a father and a mentor, pastorally and humanly.”

As Archbishop of Nairobi

Cardinal Maurice Michael Otunga; while still one year short of his retirement (in accordance to Canon 401) and also due to ill health, submitted his resignation letter to Pope John Paul II. On 14th June 1996, Bishop Ndingi was appointed Co-adjutor Archbishop of Nairobi.  This meant that he would have the right to succeed the Cardinal (upon his retirement) as Archbishop of Nairobi.

On receiving the information about his appointment as the Coadjutor Archbishop of Nairobi; “the Bishop called the clergy and the religious working in the Secretariat to his office, and informed us of the appointment. He wanted us to get the news first hand from him. Then he communicated the news to the rest of the diocesan staff”, recalls Sr. Scholastica Wanjiru, Bishop Ndingi’s long serving Secretary.

The news of transfer of Bishop Raphael Simon Ndingi Mwana a’ Nzeki came too soon for the people of Nakuru; It was a big shock and a surprise to the Catholic Christians and the residents of Nakuru; many of whom had known no other Catholic Bishop apart from Ndingi.

During his Farewell Mass at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Nakuru, Ndingi concluded his last homily as Bishop of Nakuru with his favourite Swahili hymn from Tumshangilie Bwana, (TB 9-6) “Mungu Chemchemi ya Hekima”. This drove many people to tears.

Bishop Ndingi was escorted by the Christians of Nakuru Diocese upto the border between Nakuru and Nairobi, at Kimende to a pompous reception by the clergy and Christians from Nairobi.

He was installed at the Coadjutor Archbishop of Nairobi on 13th August 1996. On 21stJune 1997, Bishop Ndingi succeeded as Archbishop of Nairobi and thus became the Archbishop of the Capital city of Kenya. He took over a See much smaller in terms of geographical coverage as compared to Nakuru, but bigger in terms of population.  Archbishop Ndingi’s record in Nairobi speaks for itself. One of the last memorable things he did as Archbishop of Nairobi was to initiate the beatification process of his immediate predecessor Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga.  Ndingi served the Archdiocese of Nairobi as its Archbishop for ten years.

Archbishop Emeritus

On 6th October 2007, having attained the canonical retirement age of 75 years (Cf. Canon 401), Archbishop Ndingi resigned, and his resignation was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI. Archbishop John Njue succeeded Ndingi and on 1st November 2007, he was formally installed as the Archbishop of Nairobi at the Holy Family Minor Basilica. On that occasion, Archbishop Ndingi gave what many called his farewell speech after so many years of active service as a Bishop. He asked the faithful to pray for him in his retirement and asked them to “reflect and re-examine their lives in their sojourn on Earth.”… “As a retiree,” he continued, “I plead for your prayers while I ask God to forgive me for any sin I may have committed while in office.” He concluded his speech with the Nunc Dimittis, the Prayer of St. Simeon; “At last O powerful master…”  (Cf. Lk. 2: 29-32).Bishop Ndingi had earlier indicated his desire to retire in Nakuru, but as Providence would have it, this did not happen.

In April 2008 after the disputed Presidential Elections of 2007 that left over 1,000 people dead and 250,000 displaced, Archbishop Nding’i was appointed by the Government of Kenya as the Chairman of the Committee for the Resettlement of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). On July 20th 2008, he celebrated his farewell Mass at Holy Family Basilica and on 16th August 2008 the Archdiocese of Nairobi held a farewell Mass for him. In the year 2009 his biography, A Voice Unstilled was published.

In the month of October 2009, Ndingi came back to Nakuru to celebrate 40 years of service as a Bishop, majority of which were in the Diocese of Nakuru. The celebrations which took place at Christ the King Cathedral, brought fond memories and many people; contrary to the African culture, eulogized Ndingi while still alive. He deserved it!

Archbishop Emeritus  Ndingi is Nakuru’s longest serving bishop and is remembered in the diocese as a Bishop who touched many hearts and contributed immensely to shaping the Diocese of Nakuru to what it is today.

Due to his advanced age, Archbishop Ndingi became ill even in his sickness and old age, the Archbishop continued being a model of perseverance, patience and sacrifice.

On 14th January 2017, during the launch of the Golden Jubilee year to celebrate 50 years for the Diocese of Nakuru, Bishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba, asked the faithful of Nakuru to keep the ailing Archbishop in their prayers; particularly in the Golden Jubilee year.

Last year 2019, Archbishop Ndingi celebrated his Golden Jubilee Anniversary as a Bishop though he was still sick. (50 years as a Bishop). The Celebrations were held in Donum Dei and later another one was held in his honour during the Archdiocesan Family Day celebrations in Nairobi last August.

On 30th March he peacefully returned to his Maker. May his soul rest in peace. Announcing his death to the clergy of Nakuru diocese, Bishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba of Nakuru refereed to him as having left “an indelible mark in the Diocese of Nakuru.”

Credit: This article was partly obtained from the soon to be published historical documentary Laus Deo!  Archbishop's Ndingi's Biography: A Voice Unstilled and Fr. Denis Newman's Book: One hundred Years: A growing.