East African Affairs Commerce and Tourism Mrs Phyllis Kandie yesterday visited Anfo Province in Italy where the recently beatified Sr Irene Nyaatha hailed and presented a gift from Kenya.
She presented a portrait of Mt Kenya to represent a gift from the people of Kenya and said she would propose to the County Government of Nyeri to consider twining, which will be a major boost for pilgrimage tourism between Kenya and Italy.
Mrs Kandie held discussions with the Mayor Mabellini Gianpietro and paid tribute to Irene’s love and compassion for people, especially in Kenya. “That is why we felt it was important to recognise all that she had done for our country through this gift as a symbol of our gratitude and eternal friendship to the town and people of Anfo,” she said.
Mrs Kandie said the recent ceremony of beatification of “Nyaatha” has presented an opportunity for Kenya to host pilgrims and noted that linkages between Nyaatha’s motherland and Nyeri where she died will enhance tourism.
The beatification of Sr Irene Stefani was done on 23rd May 2015 in Nyeri town and brought together thousands of pilgrims from across the world. The Venerable Sr. Irene Stefani (in baptism Aurelia Jacoba Mercede) was born on the 22nd August 1891 at Anfo (Brescia) – Italy.
She travelled to Kenya in 1915 where she worked as a nurse at British military hospitals during WW1. Following the war, she settled in Nyeri, where she became known as “Nyaatha”, meaning “mother of mercy” in the Kikuyu language, where she worked until she died in 1930 at the age of 39.
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