The Vatican has renewed hope in the cause of sainthood for Cardinal Maurice Michael Otunga, saying that the process, which began about 15 years ago, is still active.

The announcement was made by Angelo Romano, (a Vatican official who helps investigate sainthood cases ) at a fundraising dinner that was organized in the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN) to support Cardinal Otunga’s Sainthood cause.

The late Cardinal Otunga served as Nairobi’s Archbishop until his retirement in 1997 aged 74.

The current Nairobi Catholic Archbishop Philip Anyolo, has already received news through the Vatican-based Postulator ( person who officially leads and manages the cause for Cardinal Otunga’s sainthood) on the cause of his Beatification and canonization. Archbishop Anyolo has been informed Cardinal Otunga’s Sainthood cause has not stagnated.

Cardinal Otunga could be Kenya’s first Saint. Declared “Servant of God” in 2010 as per the process of beatification and canonization, Cardinal Otunga’s Sainthood cause is in the phase that involves the examination and verification of documents (evidence), which have been submitted to the Vatican.

These documents are examined by a group of theologians and reviewed by another group of experts. If the review is favorable, the documents are submitted to the Pope for approval and subsequent issuance of a Papal decree confirming the virtuous life of the candidate to whom he confers the title, “Venerable”.

Even with the wait of Cardinal Otunga; Sister Irene Stefani is currently ahead of Cardinal Maurice Otunga in the official Church process.

Sister Stefani, an Italian Consolata Missionary known for her service in Kenya during World War I, was declared Blessed in 2015 after the Vatican approved a miracle attributed to her. This means she has completed two of the three stages to sainthood. Awaiting canonization (sainthood) after a second miracle is approved.

She has already been declared Servant of God, Venerable and reached Blessed.

In contrast, Cardinal Maurice Otunga, Kenya’s first Cardinal, is still at the Servant of God stage. He has not yet been declared Venerable, which is the next stage. His cause, opened in 2011 and is under review by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.