KENYA: Journey to Sainthood: The Life and Times of the SOG Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga

By Elizabeth Asasha

“It was very humbling and rather a surprise,” says veteran nurse who nursed Cardinal Otunga in a twist of fate encounter. The seasoned nurse has described her chance encounter with the Servant of God (SOG) Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga at Mater Misericordiae Hospital as a humble lifetime surprise that left an indelible spiritual mark in her life.

Mrs. Flora Chepkoech Shinabuli Lubulellah, a nursing practitioner with over 33 years of experience shared her sentiments on Thursday, August 10, at the height of ignited discourses about the life and times of Kenya’s first bishop and Cardinal, His Eminence Maurice Otunga.

Shinabuli narrated that when she was called upon to fill in for a co-worker in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on that fateful day, she knew nothing about the patient she had been assigned to care for, and it was, in her opinion, an epoch-making moment to her faith to discover that her patient that night was the Archbishop Emeritus and Cardinal, Otunga.

“And guess what?” Shinabuli posed after a momentary pause, “It was the Servant of God that I nursed that night.” ‘Exclaimed the trained registered nurse at her happenstance with the humble ambassador of God who has been hailed by many as “A moral voice of our times,” “the peacemaker and reconciler,” and “the man of many first hats,” among other laudatory epithets that best describe the Bukusu Cardinal who stamped moral and spiritual authority in his calm and collected demeanor.

“It was very humbling and a bit of a surprise because I wasn’t even supposed to be on duty that day and I wasn’t even working in the Intensive Care Unit or the High Dependency Unit (ICU/HDU) by then.” Shinabuli, a mother of seven children and a grandmother of one, recalled the dialect à deux with the very shepherd who conferred the Holy Sacrament of Confirmation to her mother, Pauline Chepkorir Shinabuli.

“The SOG Cardinal Maurice Otunga was a household name, and we grew up hearing his name mentioned so often at home because he is the one who confirmed our mother, Pauline Chepkorir Shinabuli, whose confirmation name is Lucy.” She said at the Resurrection Garden in Karen, Nairobi.

“Growing up in the Catholic Church, we were so proud to see our shepherd ascend the church’s hierarchical ranks and become our bishop and cardinal. This morning, I had to share with my mother about this scheduled interview on the persona of the SOG, and she was excited about it.” Shinabuli explained noting circumstances thwarted her efforts and wish to participate in the funeral liturgy of the highly ranked Catholic prelate, Otunga.

“I wanted to participate in his final send-off celebration like readings or Prayers of the faithful but it was not possible given the circumstances back then.” Noted Shinabuli who is presently part of the Central Committee constituted of 25 members who coordinate activities that seek to propel the Beatification and Canonization course of the SOG Maurice Cardinal Otunga.

According to Shinabuli, currently a practicing part-time nurse at Strathmore University in Nairobi, her chance meeting with the late Cardinal in the hospital was a significant turning point in her life that enthused her to contribute to the ongoing Cause for Beatification of the SOG Maurice Cardinal Otunga.

In response to a call for volunteers during the 19th Memorial Mass of the SOG, Shinabuli approached Sr. Esther Ichugu, FMI, who administrates the Beatification Office, and proffered her interest to join the committee, “I asked Sister what it entails to join this committee? I just feel this urge to volunteer my time and prayer, please teach me how to go about it and that is how I joined the team.”

Many who knew Cardinal Otunga firmly hold that he was a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ who epitomized profound faith, love for all people, selflessness, and unmatched humility even when he lay on his sickbed and twenty years after his death on September 6, 2003, Catholic faithful, family, and friends continue to attest to these virtues.

In light of SOG’s defining qualities, his one-time chance nurse, Shinabuli reaffirmed, “I have said and I will say it again and over again, Humility…Humility; that night in the HDU he did not speak much but after bed-bathing him he thanked me profusely.”

She continued, “And to later learn that he retired to Nyumba ya Wazee (Home for the Elderly) in an informal settlement? That touched my heart and continues to linger in my mind to date because anyone of his caliber would have opted to live comfortably in the upscale suburbs.”

For over a decade, Mrs. Lubulellah worked at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital in Nairobi’s South B area where the SOG had intermittently sought treatment.

Meanwhile, Fr. Peter Kaigua Ngugi, the head of the Central Committee for the SOG Otunga’s Cause for Sainthood, disclosed on the morning of Tuesday, August 29, that the Beatification Office had received “good news” from the Vatican Dicastery for Causes of Saints. The diocesan priest further stated that the news, which he termed as ‘positive’ will be made public on Wednesday, September 6, during the commemoration of the SOG’s twentieth anniversary, which is scheduled to take place at Queen of Apostles Catholic Parish, Ruaraka in the Nairobi Metropolis of Kenya.

“I am not going to be the one to reveal the information but just this morning, we received a positive communication from Rome and it is going to be announced on the 6th by the petitioner, His Grace Philip Subira Anyolo.” Fr. Kaigua who serves as the Chaplain at St. Paul’s University Chapel at the University of Nairobi (UoN) told AMECEA Online correspondent at the Holy Family Minor Basilica.

Explaining the significance of the Canonization of Cardinal Maurice Otunga to Kenya and the world, Kaigua said, “Cardinal Otunga was not only a Cardinal to the Catholics but to the Universal Church in Kenya and the spirit of him as a saint impacts greatly on our faith.”

In an interview in August 2023, the Vice-Postulator for the Sainthood Course, Fr. Prof. Lawrence Njoroge, revealed that the beatification office had completed all the necessary steps to promote Servant of God Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga to the second stage of Venerable and that they were awaiting feedback from the Vatican, the seat of the Roman Catholic Church.

Audiovisual Interviews are available on Capuchin Television’s YouTube Channel @ Capuchin TV and Facebook Page @ Capuchin Television Network. Meanwhile people are encouraged to report any special favors received through the intercession of the Servant of God, Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga to contact Cardinal Otunga Beatification office, P.O Box 27043-00100, Nairobi, Kenya to call on +254 706 127 147 / 771 836 557, or email cardinalotungabo@gmail.com