John Njue was born in Embu, Kenya, on 1 January 1946, and was ordained a priest by Pope Paul VI on 6 January 1973. He took doctorates in philosophy from the Pontifical Urban University and in theology from the Pontifical Lateran University, then taught philosophy at St Augustine's Senior Seminary in Mabanga, where he was rector from 1978 to 1982. He became the first African parish priest of Chuka parish and rector of St Joseph's seminary in Nairobi.
On 9 June 1986 he was appointed the first Bishop of Embu, and in 2002 coadjutor Archbishop of Nyeri, serving also as apostolic administrator of Isiolo and of Murang'a. From 2006 to 2015 he was president of the Kenya Episcopal Conference, chairing its commissions for seminaries and for justice and peace.
On 6 October 2007 he became Archbishop of Nairobi, a post he held until 4 January 2021. Benedict XVI created him a cardinal on 24 November 2007, with the titular church of Preziosissimo Sangue di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo; he voted in the conclave of 2013.
Major Works & Initiatives
President of the Kenya Episcopal Conference
Nine years as the public head of the Kenyan bishops.
Archbishop of Nairobi
Led the capital's archdiocese through post-election crises and rapid growth.
First Bishop of Embu
Founding bishop of the diocese in his home region.
Controversies
The tetanus vaccine affair (2014)
In 2014, during Njue's presidency of the Kenya Episcopal Conference, the conference alleged that a WHO/UNICEF tetanus vaccination campaign was a covert sterilisation programme. Health authorities rejected the claim, independent testing did not substantiate it, and the episode strained relations between the Church and the Kenyan government.