The Archdiocese of Nairobi has dismissed reports that Cardinal John Njue has died.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Most Reverend Wallace Ng’ang’a, Auxiliary Bishop of Nairobi, the claims as false and unfounded.
He confirmed that the Cardinal was alive and urged Kenyans to disregard the rumours circulating online.
“It has come to our attention that persistent rumours are circulating regarding the alleged death of His Eminence John Cardinal Njue. We wish to categorically state that these claims are entirely false and without foundation,” read the statement signed by Rt. Rev. Wallace Ng’ang’a Gachihi.
Earlier, reports circulated online that the Cardinal had allegedly passed away, with the topic trending in Kenya for the better part of the morning.
Gachihi said Njue is alive, and asked Kenyans to disregard the “baseless rumours”.
“We kindly urge all to refrain from sharing or entertaining unverified information, particularly on sensitive matters such as this. Should there be any official communication regarding His Eminence’s health or any other matter, it will be conveyed through official church channels. We ask that you continue to keep Cardinal Njue in your prayers, and we wish him continued good health and blessings,” he added.
Cardinal Njue was born in present day Embu County on 1 January 1946 and was ordained as a priest by Pope Paul VI on 6 January 1973.
He holds a doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical Urbaniana University and a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Lateran University.
In 1974 he was appointed philosophy professor and dean of students at St. Augustine Senior Seminary, Mabanga in Bungoma, of which he was also rector from 1978 to 1982.
Cardinal Njue was in 1982 appointed to Chuka Parish as its first African parish priest.
He then served as rector of St. Joseph’s Philosophicum Seminary in Nairobi until his appointment on 9 June 1986 as the first Bishop of Embu.
In addition, the cleric was ordained bishop on 20 September of that year and then coadjutor Archbishop of Nyeri on 23 January 2002.
From 2005-2006, he was Apostolic Administrator of the Vicariate of Isiolo. He was also Apostolic Administrator of the diocese of Murang’a (2006-2009).
During his ministerial days, Njue has been chairman of various commissions, such as the Episcopal commission for major seminaries in Kenya and the Kenya Episcopal Conference’s Justice and Peace Commission.
From 2006 to 2015 he was president of the Kenya Episcopal Conference.
He participated in the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (October 2014) on The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization.
Also, he participated in the XIV Ordinary General Assembly on The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World (October 2015),
