The Nairobi Archdiocese has officially refuted the rumors about Cardinal John Njue’s health.
In a statement released today, the Archdiocese confirmed that Cardinal Njue is alive and well, urging the public to disregard any misleading information.
“His Eminence John Cardinal Njue is alive, and we ask that everyone disregards these baseless rumours”, read the statement
The Auxiliary Bishop of Nairobi, Rt. Rev. Wallace Ng’ang’a Gachihi, emphasized that any official updates regarding Cardinal Njue’s health will be communicated through proper church channels.
“Should there be any official communication regarding his Eminence’s health or any other matter, it will be conveyed through official Church channes. We ask that you continue to keep Cardinal Njue in your prayers, and we wish him contunued good health and blessings”, added the statement
Njue’s Birth History
Cardinal John Njue has had a remarkable journey. Born on January 1, 1946, in Embu, Kenya, he was baptized in 1948 and began his religious education at the minor seminary in Nkubu in 1962.
He pursued higher studies in Rome, earning a licentiate in philosophy from the Pontifical Urbaniana University and a licentiate in pastoral theology from the Pontifical Lateran University.
Njue’s Pastoral Career
His pastoral career is equally impressive. Ordained a priest by Pope Paul VI in 1973, Njue served in various capacities, including as the first Bishop of Embu from 1986 to 2002 and later as the Coadjutor Archbishop of Nyeri from 2002 to 2007. He was elevated to cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007, until his resignation in 2021.
In March 2014, Cardinal John Njue reiterated against a government program to vaccinate women of reproductive age against tetanus, suggesting that targeting women was suspicious. Critics, including Njue, claimed the program was a covert form of birth control, while government health officials dismissed these concerns as typical rumors from critics. Njue led the Kenyan bishops in opposing the WHO-sponsored vaccination program, asserting it was intended to reduce fertility.
In June 2017, during a Family Day celebration, Njue criticized the practice of demanding high bride prices, which he believed hindered marriages.
Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Cardinal John Njue as the Archbishop of Nairobi on January 4, 2021. Cardinal Njue had served in this role since 2007 and submitted his resignation upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75
