May 14, 1997: The Catholic Archbishop of Nairobi, His Eminence Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga, retires. The Head of the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II, appointed Archbishop Ndingi Mwana a Nzeki as the new Nairobi Archbishop. Archbishop Ndingi has been the Cardinal’s Co-adjutor (associate) since last June 27, after he was transferred from Nakuru, where he had been the bishop since 1971. . Cardinal Otunga, 74, has served the church for over 46 years, since October 1950. He first hinted he would leave last November at the Holy Family Basilica, when he told the congregation: “We should thank the Holy Father [the Pope] for giving us a Co-adjutor Archbishop, Ndingi, who will be working with me directly as the Archbishop of Nairobiuntil such time as the Pope will release me to become an ordinary shepherd. ” The Canon Law says a bishop should retire at the age of 74 years: Cardinal Otunga was born at Chebukwa, Kakamega Diocese – now Bungoma Diocese – in January 1923 and appointed auxiliary Bishop of Kisumu in November 1956. Photo|Nation Syndication