Man who lived with Blessed Sister Irene Stefani 'Nyaatha' dies at 95

John Baiye from Gikondi in Mukurweini died on Tuesday aged 95. He was taught Christian doctrine by Sister Irene Stefani 'Nyaatha', when he was 10 years old. She taught the villagers Christian songs, some composed in Latin. [Photo: Kibata Kihu/Standard]

An elderly man believed to be among the few surviving people to have interacted with the Blessed Sister Irene Stefani ‘Nyaatha’ has died.

John Baiye, 95, died on Tuesday three months after the beatification of Sister ‘Nyaatha’.

Mr Baiye was admitted to Consolata Mathari Mission Hospital last Saturday after he fell in his compound and lost consciousness.

Peter Githinji, the postulator of the cause of beatification of ‘Nyaatha’, said the elderly man was rushed to the mission hospital where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.

“I was called on Saturday and I administered viticum, which is the sacrament of anointing of the sick. He was in a coma since Saturday until he died on Tuesday afternoon,” said Father Githinji.

The priest said Baiye had been claiming that he had told ‘Nyaatha’ not to leave him behind since he had finished his work.

“It seems he was ready and was predicting his death,” said Githinji.

Baiye was an instrumental witness to the cause of beatification of ‘Nyaatha’, since he was among a few witnesses who gave their accounts of the nun who operated in Gikondi in Mukurweini between 1915 and 1930.

Blessed ‘Nyaatha’ was beatified on May 23 this year in an event that was graced by Dar-es-Salaam priest Polycarp Cardinal Pengo and Kenya’s John Cardinal Njue at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology grounds.

Baiye also attended the beatification event.

On the eve of the beatification at Our Lady of Divine Providence Church in Gikondi, Baiye was recognised by the service organisers and was even given a chance to address the pilgrims.

He was among crucial sources whom even the media relied on in getting more information about ‘Nyaatha’.

Living testimony

In a past interview with The Standard, Baiye said he started interacting with the nun when he was about four years.

Apparently, Sister ‘Nyaatha’ had prophesied to Baiye, after reading his palm, that he would live long enough to enjoy the pleasures of life.

“Anjitire, akindora ruhi akinjira ‘wee ni ugatura thi matuku maingi, na andu aku ni makagunika’ (she called me, read my palm and told me, ‘you will live long in this world and your family will be blessed’),” said Baiye at a past interview.

That, he said, had come to be.

“I believe there is no other perfect miracle a human being can enjoy than long life.

“I have also traveled with priests whom I served as altar boy to various parts of the world during the first and second world wars, among them Bethlehem where Jesus was born, Sweden and Italy,” he d said.

In his interview, Baiye described Nyaatha as a friend, prophet, mother, nurse and a woman of God who loved children, the elderly and the sick with her whole heart.

Baiye’s body is preserved at St Michael Funeral Parlour in Mathari.