Cardinal Maurice Otunga (1923-2003)
Maurice
Otunga was born in Chebukwa in January 1923 and baptized at age 12.
Ordained a priest at 27, he was named by Pope Pius XII as auxiliary
bishop of Kisumu in 1956.
In 1969, Pope Paul VI named him coadjutor of Nairobi, and in 1971,
archbishop of that city.
The same Pope made him a cardinal in 1973.
Biography
Birth.
January 1923, Chebukwa, diocese of Kisumu, Kenya, the son of a pagan
tribal chief. Baptized in 1935.
Education.
Seminary of Kakamega, Kisumu; Seminary of Gaba, Kampala, Uganda;
Pontifical Urbanian Athenaeum "De Propaganda Fide," Rome.
Priesthood.
Ordained, October 3, 1950, Rome. From 1951 to 1956, faculty member
of Seminary of Kakamega; diocesan chancellor, and staff member of
apostolic delegation.
Episcopate.
Elected titular bishop of Tacape and appointed auxiliary of Kisumu,
November 17, 1956. Consecrated, February 25, 1957, Kakamega, by
James Robert Knox, titular archbisnop of Melitene, apostolic
delegate in British Africa. Transferred to diocese of Kisii, May 21,
1960. Attended II Vatican Council, 1962-1965. Military vicar of
Kenya, January 20, 1964. Promoted to titular archbishop of Bomarza
and appointed coadjutor of Nairobi, with right of succession,
November 15, 1969. Archbishop of Nairobi, October 24, 1971.
President of Episcopal Conference of Kenya.
Cardinalate.
Created cardinal priest, March 5, 1973; received red biretta and
title of S. Gregorio Barbarigo alle Tre Fontane, March 5, 1973.
Attended III Ordinary Assembly of World Synod of Bishops, Vatican
City, September 27-October 26, 1974; IV Ordinary Assembly of World
Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 30-October 29, 1977;
member of general secretariat, 1977-1980. Participated in conclave
of August 25-26, 1978. Participated in conclave of October 14-16,
1978. Attended I Plenary Assembly of Sacred College of Cardinals,
Vatican City, November 5-9, 1979; V Ordinary Assembly of World Synod
of Bishops, Vatican City, September 26-October 25, 1980; member of
general secretariat, 1980-1983. Military ordinary for Kenya, January
24, 1981. Member of Council of Cardinals for Study of Organizational
and Economic Problems of Holy See, May 31, 1981. Attended Special
Assembly of World Synod of Bishops for Africa, Vatican City, April
10-May 8, 1994. Resigned pastoral government of archdiocese, May 14,
1997; military ordinariate, September 13, 1997.
Bibliography.
Ogola, Margaret A. Cardinal Otunga: a gift of grace.
Nairobi, Kenya: Paulines Publications Africa, 1999.
