Retired Bishop Luigi Paiaro of The Nyahururu Catholic Diocese has been lauded by his successor Bishop, Joseph Mbatia for pursuing servant leadership during his 60 years of service in the Diocese.
Bishop Mbatia called upon Kenyan leaders to emulate the retired Bishop who has focused his service on uplifting the lives of the people.
The cleric was speaking during a mass that later ushered in a book launch event at the Mary Immaculate Cathedral in Nyahururu.
The book titled “The Shepherd of Mountains and Plains”, written by Sipili assistant parish priest Father Patrick Irungu, is a highlight of a biography of the retired Bishop Luigi.
The retired Bishop is remembered for his social actions during his tenure as first Bishop of the Diocese, such as settling victims of the 2007/8 post-election violence and founding the ultra-modern Pope Banedict hospital in Nyahururu, among others.
The Bishop was against Kenyan leaders who insult their colleagues, adding that such behaviour does not fit well for the positions they hold in society.
“Leadership is for the peaceful, clever and God-fearing people. That is why Kenya needs people with good leadership qualities,” noted Bishop.
Retired Bishop Luigi was born in 1934 in Padova (Padua) Italy and ordained a priest in 1959. He came to Kenya in 1963 and joined the Nyeri diocese, where he served for one year before being transferred to Nyandarua an area that was under the Nyeri diocese.
The bishop then moved to the Nyahururu Cathedral later and was appointed Bishop in 2003 to head the newly created Nyahururu diocese that was inherited from the larger Nyeri diocese.
During his tenure, Laikipia, which is part of the Nyahururu diocese, witnessed brutal insecurity that resulted in lost lives and livelihood, forcing the Church to feed hundreds of starving people.
Bishop Luigi retired in 2011 and was succeeded by Bishop Mbatia, who was two years old when Paiaro arrived in Kenya in 1963.
The retired Bishop is credited with starting football in Nyahururu by launching the first football team, where he was a sponsor and a player.
By Kimani Tirus
