David Gitari

Gitari studied at the Kangaru High School, in Embu, and at the University of Nairobi, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree.

He was ordained an Anglican priest in 1972 by Bishop Obadiah Kariuki. He was consecrated the first bishop of the Diocese of Mount Kenya East on 20 July 1975, aged only 37 years old. He was the founder of St. Andrews College of Theology and Development in Kabare. He remained in office until 1990, when the Diocese of Mount Kenya East was divided into two new dioceses, Embu and Kirinyaga. He was then nominated the first bishop of the Diocese of Kirinyaga, which he was until 1996.

Gitari tenure at the Dioceses of Mount Kenya East and Kirinyanga witness an amazing growth of membership, due to his Evangelicalism. He led many missions in Kenyan universities and also promoted the development, theological education, liturgical renewal and women's ordination to the priesthood. He served as chairman of the Provincial Board of Theological Education at the Anglican Church of Kenya. He was also chairman of the board of St. Paul's University, Limuru. He was involved with the ecumenical movement, both with Protestants and Roman Catholics.

Gitari pastoral work led to political controversy, since he felt it was his duty to preach against land grabbing by powerful politicians and economic injustice. He also protested against constitutional changes that led to vote by queuing instead of secret vote. His strong opposition to undemocratic practises, namely queuing during 1988 general elections and to political killings earned him many foes. In the night of 21 April 1989, his house was raided by a group of about 100 thugs who threatened to kill him. The help of his neighbours lead to the bandits escape.

He was elected the third primate and archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya and enthroned on 12 January 1997 at All Saints Cathedral, in Nairobi.[1] He remained in office until his retirement, on 16 September 2002. During his tenure, he worked to create peace and unity in the church and to solve the divisions and quarrels at their dioceses, since several did not had bishops due to allegations of nepotism and tribalism, often related to political influence. He revived the Anglican Theological Education by Extension program, which was floundering in several dioceses, and helped launch the official website of the Anglican Church of Kenya.

He was succeeded as Archbishop of Kenya by Benjamin Nzimbi, who honoured him in his enthronement speech, on 22 September 2002. He also quoted a kishwahili poem in tribute to Gitari that read: "Gitari ni hodari. Gitari ni daktari. Gitari ni jemedari. Gitari ni hatari." (Gitari is bold. Gitari is a doctor. Gitari is an army commander. Gitari is dangerous.).

Kenyan Anglican priest Alfred S. Keyas wrote on Gitari: "Gitari will be remembered for his bold messages from the pulpit. Along with other fellow clergymen such as Njoya, Okullu, and Muge, Gitari had the courage to criticize and hold the government accountable for its actions. Like Muge, Gitari believed in the power of the pulpit to transform and reform society. Through the power of the spoken word, Gitari scared politicians and quelled the storm of social lies proclaimed by those whose interest was to enrich themselves at the expense of the poor."[2]

He died in Mater Hospital, in Nairobi, on 30 September 2013, aged 76.[3]

Gitari published several books and sermons, including Let the Bishop Speak (1986) and In Season and Out of Season: Sermons to a Nation (1996). His autobiography, Troubled But Not Destroyed, was published posthumously in 2014.[4]

• David Gitari at the Dictionary of African Christian Biography