Nyaatha beatification breathes life into once sleepy village

Friday, 5.41p.m., a street pastor is deep in praise and worship songs, in an open ground within the little known Gikondi township shopping centre.

His only three attendants are seated on huge boulders left behind by road contractors grading the road.

A glance at most of the infrastructure and structures casts a picture of a calm and sleepy village. Among them is a yet-to-be-completed abandoned storey house, and other old semi-permanent buildings.

Welcome to the little known Gikondi township, started in the early 1800s, but which has refused to grow.

The shopping centre sits on a three-acre land, and prides itself of hosting one-storey house.

Nyeri County Government recently launched a 39.5 kilometre road construction which, once completed, is believed could ease the situation.

The only visible new development project is the recently murramed roads, although during rainy seasons, it is impossible to access some sections within Mukurwe-ini-Gikondi road because of its sorry state.

However, the sleepy town shot to global fame since last year, courtesy of a Catholic nun, Sister Irene ‘Nyaatha’ Stefani, who died in 1930.

Nyaatha will on May 22 to May 24, be beatified to Blessed, because of her acts of love and compassion while she served at Gikondi. It was here that a bubonic plague outbreak struck in 1920s, killing her and hundreds of residents.

Were it not for her and another nun, Sister Octavia, the village would have, well be just there.

But because of their benevolence, the two, also nurses, spent most of their time treating the sick.

Nyaatha had lived at Gikondi Catholic Parish, whose construction started in 1900.

Mzee John Mbuthia Baiye, 95, says Gikondi was vibrant at the start of the 20th century.

“When the Italian missionaries arrived, they helped develop the village and neighbouring areas,” said Baiye.

Ms Esther Wanjiku, a second-hand clothes seller, describes the village as a giant that is gradually rising from slumber.

She says businessmen previously closed shops by 8p.m., but today things have changed since quite a good number can be seen operating even after 10p.m.

Wanjiku says she did not know about Nyaatha until the beatification was announced by the Vatican.

“This event is attracting so many people. Barely a day passes without visitors streaming into the church where Nyaatha lived,” she said.

“The region has experienced change since the beatification arrangements began. I am sure Nyaatha will shower us more blessings,” she said.