Uhuru Recalls How Pope Francis ‘Threw Him Out’ of Presidential Office

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta shared a touching and humorous memory of Pope Francis during a requiem mass held at the Holy Family Minor Basilica in Nairobi on Friday, revealing how the late pontiff once asked him to leave his own presidential office.

Speaking at the memorial service, Kenyatta, who returned to Kenya from Uganda on Thursday night, recounted two memorable encounters with the Pope, emphasizing the extraordinary humility that defined the Catholic leader’s character.

“I had the pleasure and honor of meeting Pope Francis twice, and the memories of those encounters remain very dear to me. I can testify to his remarkable humility,” Kenyatta told the congregation, which included Chief Justice Martha Koome and Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu.

The former president then shared an anecdote that drew both laughter and admiration from those present.

“I remember when the Pope was in Nairobi. We were sitting in my office, talking. When we finished, someone had requested a moment with His Holiness. I passed on the message, invited the person in, and we all sat. There was silence. Then the Pope turned to me and said, ‘I thought you said he wanted to talk to me,’” Kenyatta recalled.

“For the first time as President, another Head of State threw me out of my own office, which I found quite incredible,” he added with a smile.

Kenyatta described how Pope Francis didn’t just meet with the individual but followed up with them after leaving Kenya.

“What greater show of humility can one ask for? That he went out of his way for one individual, even while caring for over a billion others around the world—that was a powerful lesson in humility for me,” the former president reflected.

During the mass, Archbishop Philip Anyolo of the Nairobi diocese praised Pope Francis as a unifying figure who touched millions worldwide through his charitable service and advocacy for the marginalized.

“His Holiness Pope Francis was not only the vicar of Christ but also a prophetic voice in our time, one who unceasingly reminded us that the measure of the greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most in need,” Archbishop Anyolo said.

The requiem mass follows Thursday’s signing of a condolence book at the residence of Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Matheus Maria van Megen.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula will represent President William Ruto at the upcoming funeral ceremony at St. Peter’s Square Basilica in Rome, which is expected to draw more than 130 senior world leaders and at least 50 heads of state.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​