Retired Meru Diocese Catholic Bishop Silas Silvius Njiru has died of coronavirus in Italy.

According to multiple sources including The Star newspaper, Njiru, who retired as a Bishop of Meru in March 2004, succumbed to the virus on Tuesday after his diagnosis four days prior.

His passing on was announced by the Secretary-General of the Consolata Missionaries who said the retired Bishop passed away while in Italy.

Njiru was born in Meru on December 17, 1928, and was ordained as a priest on October 2, 1975,a position which he served in for approximately 64 years and later as a bishop for 44 years.

RETIRED MERU Bishop Silas Silvius Njiru, 92,succumbs to Covid-19 at retirement home in Turin, Italy. pic.twitter.com/zJ0TS7iGOV

— Nation Breaking News (@NationBreaking) April 28, 2020

Before his death, he was residing at the “Blessed Joseph Allamano” house in Alpignano in Turin Italy.

“On April 25, 2020, he (Njiru) was taken to Rivoli hospital, due to Covid-19 infection, where he passed away on April 28, 2020, at 00:30 hours. Let us pray for his eternal rest,”

Fr Pedro Josè da Silva Louro, IMC, Secretary-General said in a statement.

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