D-day as world congregates to witness nun’s beatification

Dedan Kimathi University grounds where the beatification of Sister Irene Stefani will take place on Saturday. [Photo: Tabitha Otwori/Standard]

Nyeri, Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta will Saturday morning join Catholic faithful in a first-of-a-kind religious event in Africa, which will be held at Nyeri’s Dedan Kimathi University grounds.

The university was yesterday a beehive of activity as workers erected tents and decorated domes where most of the VIP guests will sit, in readiness for the beatification of the Irene Stefani, a nun who nursed soldiers in the First World War.

In the historic event that has attracted visitors from all over the world, Catholic clergy led by John Cardinal Njue of Kenya and Polycarp Cardinal Pengo of Tanzania, will gather to witness the late Stefani ‘Nyaatha’ move a step closer to sainthood.

State House officials and other top government officials led by Nyeri County Commissioner Michael ole Tialal, were busy inspecting the preparations, as road construction workers levelled the ground in front of the dais.

The presidential dais was constructed on the left side of the main dais, which will host the Papal delegate Cardinal Pengo, who will deliver the Papal decree on the beatification of Sister Nyaatha.

The other dais, to host sisters and other church leaders was constructed on the right side of the multi-million shillings main dais.

Congregants

The organisers have set the main stage such that if the skies are clear during today’s beatification service, pilgrims and congregants will have a magnificent view of Kenya’s highest mountain as the backdrop, Mt Kenya. Yesterday, Nyeri was cloudy, with intermittent stints of sunshine.

“We are all set and we can confirm that everything is in order. We are just doing final touches to ensure pilgrims are comfortable during the beatification mass,” said Tialal.

Separate tents were erected in various areas within the expansive ground, as Father Dr Donatus Mathenge exuded confidence that the ground will host the estimated hundreds of thousands of pilgrims — the ambitious target being 300,000 — expected to attend.

“The ground is expansive enough and it is situated in a topography where every person attending the event will have a good view of the main dais where the celebrants will be seated,” said Mathenge.

Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua, on Thursday night launched a lighting project, which has seen lights installed in the sleepy Mukurwe-ini, Nyeri and Gikondi towns, in preparation for the historic event. Gachagua, who was accompanied by Kenya Power Chief Executive Officer Ben Chumo, said the county government is committed to making the beatification a success.

“This is not a Catholic Church event. It is an event that every Kenyan should be proud of. We appreciate the gesture of President Kenyatta who ensured Nyeri has been lighted after we approached him” said Gachagua.

Chumo said the company spent Sh131 million in the lighting project. He added that 955 lights were installed.

“The project took 12 days to complete and we spent Sh131 million. We appreciate Nyeri County youth who helped make the project a success. Let us come together and promote a 24-hour economy here,” said Chumo.

On the business side, Equity Bank announced yesterday that they would open the Nyeri branch on Sunday to ensure pilgrims who need services get them.

“At least eight branches in Nyeri and nearby counties will be open on Sunday, and we have extended their operational hours to 8pm, to ensure the pilgrims are not inconvenienced,” said Nyingi.

Also, Kenya Red Cross Society Central Region Manager David Kariuki, said the society would deploy 300 volunteers who will offer emergency response services, crowd control and first aid during three-day event.

“We are also in constant communication with our secretary general Mr Abbas Gullet, who has also assisted us with more vehicles and ambulances to cover the event,” said Kariuki.

Homeboys entertainment Group started installing high voltage sound systems at the ground situated along the Nyeri-Nyahururu Road.

Leading television stations, among them our sister station, Kenya Television Network (KTN), installed their outside broadcast equipment at Gikondi and DeKut grounds to ensure the events are covered live.

At Mathari Mission Complex, faithful, including various units of security forces, visited Mathari Central Chapel to view a casket containing the relics off the late nun. At the Central Chapel in Mathari, we discovered that a prayer and petition book was opened and placed just next to the sanctuary where the sarcophagus stands.

Sister Christine Matunda and Sister Veronica Wanjiru from the congregation of Sisters of St Joseph in Mombasa said faithful are expected to write their prayers that require Sister Nyaatha’s intercession.
“You may be surprised that the petition book is now full and need to be replaced. Faithful have really responded by asking Sister Nyaatha to intercede for them,” said Sister Matunda.

Complete transformation

The church’s altar was also covered in green clothes with Sister Nyaatha’s portrait.

“We have had a complete transformation of the church, which has been home to the relics of Sister Nyaatha for 20 years,” said Ms Alice Wambui, a staff at Mathari Mission Complex.

And at Gikondi, pilgrims started trooping in large numbers, among them foreigners, including relatives of Sister Nyaatha.

A night vigil mass was held yesterday, starting 3pm. It attracted huge numbers of people who assembled at Our lady of Divine Providence Gikondi Parish, where Sister Nyaatha lived between 1915 and 1930.

The Standard on Saturday discovered that police were also deployed along the Nyeri-Mukurweini-Gikondi, Karatina-Mukurweini and Othaya-Mukurweini road to ensure order.