Long-serving Catholic Bishop Silus Silvius Njiru succumbed to Covid-19 while serving in Turin, Italy just before midnight on Monday April 27, 2020.
This was confirmed through a statement issued by Pedro Jose da Silva Luoro, Secretary-General of the Consolata Missionaries on April 28.
"Bishop Silas was residing at the "Blessed Joseph Allamano" house in Alpignano, Turin Italy. On April 25, he was taken to Rivoli Hospital, due to Covid-19 infection, where he passed away on April 28, at 00:30 hours. Let us pray for his eternal rest," the statement read in part.
Bishop Njiru was born in Meru on October 10, 1928. He was ordained as a priest on December 17, 1955, and on October 2, 1975, he was appointed auxiliary Priest of Meru and Titular Bishop of Maturba.
On January 1, 1976, he was ordained as a bishop and appointed Bishop of Meru on September 12, 1976. Bishop Njiru retired as Bishop of Meru on March 18, 2004.
The late Bishop is acknowledged for his collective and pivotal role in the church as well as towards the well being of the society and his community as a whole.
Most notably, Bishop Njiru was of instrumental help to Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti.
Kinoti had a rough childhood and had been abandoned by his father along with his six siblings.
The DCI boss suffered from malnutrition and an ailment of the bones and was under care at the Sisters of Nazareth. During these tough times, Bishop Njiru ensured that Kinoti and his family were well taken care of.
“Because of that influence, I felt that there was nothing I could give in gratitude and chose to become a priest,” Kinoti had revealed in a past interview, noting that he had ventured into priesthood prior to his current job.
When he joined the national police service, the late Bishop also wrote to then commissioner of police, recommending Kinoti.
The sudden demise of the late Bishop adds to the tally of Kenyans who have succumbed to the virus, since it's outbreak in early 2020.
