Long Serving Kenyan Priest Reminisces about Moments with Cardinal Otunga, His Parents’ Conversion to Catholicism

Cardinal Otunga would intervene in many other matters of young Mokaya’s formation to the Priesthood, including calming him when his parents were opposed to him choosing the Priestly vocation.

Fr. Mokaya’s testimony was lengthy but heartwarming and has been shortened to bring out the Kenyan Catholic Priest’s insight into the person of Cardinal Otunga: an exemplary pastor, very humble, very saintly, and detached from the richness of this world.

The member Clergy of ADN also suggests that the people of God pray for a miraculous healing of a Priest in the Kenyan Metropolitan See, whose recovery medics have ruled out.

My first impression of Cardinal Otunga

I came in touch with the late Cardinal in 1970. I had just finished my junior seminary studies at Queen of Apostles, Ruaraka, and we had heard from our Superior that there was a new Archbishop who is coming to Nairobi to succeed Archbishop J.J. McCarthy. I began my Philosophy and Theology studies in 1970, outside this country. I went to study in Tanzania, and on holidays, I would come to see Cardinal Otunga, then Archbishop. That was when I began experiencing the goodness of this person. He would welcome me very well at his residence.

Credit: ACI Africa

Along the way, actually, I was a bit intimidated by this great man. But in his humility, he would give me a chance to also express myself.

I came to know him as polite, friendly, and a person concerned very greatly with vocations. He encouraged me a lot. And he came to know about my background.

My parents converting to Catholicism

I am the firstborn in a family of six children, and among my siblings, I was best exposed academically. And therefore, there was a lot of hope in me as the oldest child in the family. My parents did not know much about what I was studying. They only thought that I was pursuing academic matters.

However, later on, they came to know what I was pursuing.

Credit: ACI Africa

I had a big problem. My parents were peasants and their house back in Kisii where I come from was falling to pieces. I felt I had a big responsibility to do something about the situation, because I was also ashamed coming home from the Seminary and here I was, in a place that was not very welcoming.

I remember I shared that with Cardinal Otunga. I was not sharing with him so much as a request for financial support. I just felt I had to share with him, because the matter was putting me down. I just needed to maintain self-confidence in my studies. Cardinal Otunga listened to me very carefully and said, ‘young Seminarian, before you go back to the Seminary, go and do something about that matter’. I was left thinking of what to do since I had no money. And I didn’t have anyone else to turn to.

Cardinal Otunga left me for a while and came back with Ksh. 5,000. At that time, this was a lot of money. He prayed for me and assured me that God would bless whatever work I was going to do for my parents. With the help of my other family relatives, we completed the construction of a house for my parents who were Seventh Day Adventists. My parents died very good Catholics.

(Story continues below)

Advice after my parents said they were against my Priestly vocation

There came a problem in my vocation in 1974, when I only had a year left to my Deaconate ordination. I went to Cardinal Otunga who encouraged me to share what was troubling me, and I opened up, saying, “My parents are against this vocation I have chosen. They don't want me to continue in this life.”

The Cardinal listened very carefully. Then he looked at me intently in my eyes with a very beautiful smile and told me, ‘You are not alone in that matter. We are encouraging you to continue.’ He cautioned me to be prayerfully discreet about my Diaconate Ordination, and to only inform my parents towards my Priestly Ordination.

Somehow, my father knew about my Diaconate Ordination in Tanzania and called me. He asked to know where my Priestly ordination would be. Surprisingly, he was happy about my ordination and even invited other people to witness it. Again, Cardinal Otunga funded the celebration of the ordination.

Cardinal Otunga was so generous, very considerate, very friendly, and very, very fatherly.

Credit: ACI Africa

Held my hand as a young Priest

The foundation of my Priesthood was laid by Cardinal Otunga. I obeyed him. I went wherever he sent me. He gave me permission to continue my studies (in) the U.S. I was there for three years, and I got a Master's in Science and Technology. And when I enrolled to continue my studies at the University of Washington, D.C., I got (his) permission.

He called me back to Kenya to help with the preparation of the 43rd Eucharistic Congress. At that time, we were not many Diocesan Clergy. 

Closeness with my sick mother

Coming to Kenya for the 43rd Eucharistic Congress was a blessing in disguise. My mother had been seriously sick, but I had never been told. When I obeyed Cardinal Otunga and came back to Nairobi, I started taking care of my mother.

Credit: ACI Africa

After the Congress, the Cardinal reminded me about my unfinished studies and gave me a scholarship to go to study in Rome. While I was in Rome, Cardinal Otunga went to visit my mother in hospital. He called me back to be with her, saying that she was in a comma. I came back, and I was there in hospital when my mother died.

Cardinal Otunga sent me to teach at St. Matthias Mulumba Senior Seminary. I came back to Nairobi towards the end of 1997, when the Cardinal had retired and was living at Nyumba ya Wazee (home for the elderly in Ruaraka, Nairobi). I used to visit Cardinal Otunga just to greet him and to show him how happy I was.

Cardinal Otunga’s spiritual wealth

I, just like many other people, (am) praying for this great man. He was very humble, very saintly, and detached from the richness of this world.

Credit: ACI Africa

He was a great man who got concerned with the goodness of the people. Yes, we can say Cardinal Otunga never left many physical structures within the Archdiocese of Nairobi. But spiritually, he built us. He did the Resurrection Garden. He initiated the Cardinal Otunga Plaza which was completed … after him. He started the foundation, but he was a poor man in material things. He was, however, very rich spiritually. That is what we all need. We all need to learn from Cardinal Otunga that it is not material wealth, but spiritual wealth that will take us to heaven.

Let’s pray fervently for this great man

I long for the day that Cardinal Otunga will be declared a Saint. I wait. If that day will not reach when I am on earth, I will still see it come if I am on that other side from this word. And that day will surely come, in accordance with the will of God.

Credit: ACI Africa

I pray for a miracle to happen in the life of Father Patrick Kanja. And I pray that you join me in praying for Father Patrick who was the Chaplain of St. Paul’s chapel of the University of Nairobi.

He is seriously sick with the effects of Covid-19. There is no single hospital that can help Father Patrick Kanja. And I have been praying for that day when a miracle will happen to him through the intercession of the Servant of God Cardinal Otunga.

I ask you to join me in this prayer. It is such a miracle that we need for Cardinal Otunga to be raised among the Saints of God.