Stephen Rukaria Mwiti Program

A celebration of

Stephen Rukaria Mwiti – a gentleman to the end, loved by many and a man of true faith

Order of Service Memorial Celebration Service

Burial Service

Thursday 23rd June 2016 Mamlaka Hill Chapel, Nairobi 2:00 PM

Friday 24th June 2016 Kamurita Market – Kithirune, Meru 12:00 PM

Opening Prayer

6:00 AM

Departure from Lee Funeral Home, Nairobi

Casket Procession

11:00 AM

Worship Songs

Arrival at Kamurita

Question of the Day

12:00 PM Service begins

Praise and Worship Eulogy

Hymn What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Bible Readings

Interlude

1st Reading 2nd Reading

Video Montage

Hymn It is Well

Tributes Hymn In Christ Alone

Hymn Pass Me Not Oh Gentle Savior

Tributes

Prayers for the Family

Hymn

Sermon Prayers for Family Vote of Thanks Announcements Master of Ceremony

Final Prayers and Benediction Recessional Hymn On Eagles Wings

Rock of Ages

Burial Rites and Laying of Wreaths Closing Prayer Vote of Thanks 3:30 PM Refreshments Guests leave at leisure

A celebration of

Stephen Rukaria Mwiti

– a gentleman to the end, loved by many and a man of true faith

Mr. Stephen Rukaria Mwiti was born in 1940 at Kioru Sub location, Kithirune West location in Meru Central County. He was the second son of the late Isaac M’Mukiira (Kithaka) and Zipporah Kanugu M’Mukiira. Mr. Mwiti was also a loving brother to Murithi Kithaka & Judith Murithi, Judith & Johnstone Kaburu, Harriet Mburugu and the late Mburugu, Catherine Kathure, the late Patrick Ndereba and Susan Wanja.

He would often joke that he never knew exactly which day he was born and therefore gave himself January 1st as his birthday.

A LEADER Mr. Mwiti attended his early education at Kithirune Primary School from 1948. He passed his Common Entrance Exams and joined Kaaga Intermediate School where he sat his Kenya African Preliminary

Examination in 1957. He was then admitted to Meru School in 1958. True to his nature, Mr. Mwiti was a hardworking A-student. His exemplary leadership gifts came out at an early age as he was the school captain until 1961. >

He lived his life in a manner that sought to bring glory to God, honor his wife and family.

Also very athletic, he represented Meru County in pole vault and was an avid footballer; a sport he continued to love up till his golden years. He loved attending stadium matches - and once even lost his sweater at a stadium in the excitement of it all! After passing his Cambridge School Certificate in 1961, the then headmaster of Meru School wanted Mr. Mwiti to be a District Officer - to which he politely declined and instead took up an opportunity to join East Africa Railways & Harbor (EAR&H) as an accountant trainee straight after Meru School. Whilst working at EAR&H he went back to Strathmore College to study Accountancy and Finance Management.

Mr. Mwiti’s love for education knew no bounds. An enthusiastic scholar - he attended several courses, locally and overseas in Italy

and USA - where he continued to specialise in accounts, finance and management.

A Business Entrepreneur After EAR&H he found fresh pastures at Union Carbide Nakuru (known today as Eveready) as the Plant Manager where he worked up to 1979.

After his stint at the company,he returned back to Nairobi and joined East African Standard in Printpak where he served as the General Manager for 5 years. He then ventured into business and formed Paragon Business Forms - a business he successfully run for over a decade. He later formed 6M Industries – a furniture, renovation and building company. Thereafter he returned to his passion for packaging and founded Jazza Ltd where he worked until his passing.

A MAN OF INTEGRITY Mr. Mwiti married Margaret Munyange Marete on August 19th 1967. Though they had known each other in secondary school - they connected whilst they were both in Nairobi. They were blessed with four children, Mugambi, Makena, the late Muthoni, Mwendwa and Kanjii (Mwendwa’s husband). He was grandfather to Tunde, Caelan, Selah and Benga and had a special relationship with each of them.

Mwiti loved his family and sacrificed a lot for their livelihood and education. He never missed a moment to teach and ensure they understood the value of family and integrity. He modelled this to his children - walking away several times from business opportunities because they were fraudulent.

Stephen Mwiti also loved his siblings, in-laws and each of their children. Always paying special heed to what each one was doing and assisting many of them with their life goals - particularly with the education and health of their children. >

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY Besides his family he was very committed to serving his community. He was a faithful member of Round Table and later joined the Rotary Club - where he took a key role in the building and maintenance of the Nakuru School for the Deaf. He was also very involved in organising and raising funds for the physically challenged through the popular ‘Ring Us Up’ TV program.

Mwiti was passionate about the environment and its conservation and was a small scale tea farmer - that saw him take trips up to Meru close to every other week.

He also loved to have a good time, enjoying the company of his friends and business associates. If it wasn’t playing a game of tennis or squash with them - he could be found on the golf course. He enjoyed his golf so much so, that he taught the game to each of his children and even his grandsons Tunde & Caelan.

HIS LEGACY Mr. Mwiti’s faith was not just a big part of him - but ALL of him. He lived his life in a manner that sought to bring glory to God, honor his wife and family. His faith made up an integral part of his life - having been a member of BSF since 1996 - a solid 20 years! He recruited many friends young and old into the program. Including his dear grandchildren whom he would take with him to BSF faithfully every Tuesday evening.

Instilling in them the word of God. What a rich legacy!

He also devotedly served in the various churches he attended - no task was too big or small for him to do. Mr. & Mrs. Mwiti left Lavington Church and joined Nairobi Chapel - Mamlaka Church after they followed their children - to investigate the church they were going to. Because they liked what they saw, they chose to settle, serve and are still faithful members to date.

STRENGTH, GRACE & DIGNITY Mr. Mwiti was a healthy man until 4 years ago when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. God led him to get his first check-up - and when he learnt of it, he used every opportunity to share his story and encourage men to get checked. He was a big advocate for awareness and prevention.

The family church and friends made all efforts to finance his treatment in both India and Kenya.

Through it all, he never once gave up, but fought

with strength, grace and dignity.

He passed on peacefully, the morning of Friday 17th June 2016 at MP Shah Hospital at the prime age of 76 years.

Stephen Rukaria Mwiti was and will always be a gentleman to the end, loved by many and a man of true faith.

May God rest him in His peaceful Kingdom.

Amen

Hymns It is well, with my soul

In Christ Alone

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.

In Christ alone my hope is found He is my light, my strength, my song This cornerstone, this solid ground Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

Refrain: It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blest assurance control, that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed his own blood for my soul.

What heights of love, what depths of peace When fears are stilled, when strivings cease My Comforter, my All in All Here in the love of Christ I stand In Christ alone, who took on flesh Fullness of God in helpless babe This gift of love and righteousness Scorned by the ones He came to save

(Refrain)

Till on that cross as Jesus died The wrath of God was satisfied For every sin on Him was laid Here in the death of Christ I live

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

There in the ground His body lay Light of the world by darkness slain Then bursting forth in glorious Day Up from the grave he rose again

(Refrain)

And as He stands in victory Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me For I am His and He is mine Bought with the precious blood of Christ

And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll; the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, even so, it is well with my soul.

(Refrain)

No guilt in life, no fear in death This is the power of Christ in me From life’s first cry to final breath Jesus commands my destiny No power of hell, no scheme of man Can ever pluck me from His hand Till He returns or calls me home Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

ON EAGLES WINGS Here I am waiting, abide in me, I pray Here I am longing for You Hide me in Your love, bring me to my knees May I know Jesus more and more

Come live in me all my life, take over Come breathe in me, I will rise on eagle’s wings Come live in me all my life, take over Come breathe in me, I will rise on eagle’s wings

Ugankuruka, Mwonokia

Jesu ni Mucore weetu

Ugankuruka, Mwonokia, Kangugukaira, Waatua kwiija kiri baangi, Wiije undaithe

Jesu ni Mucore weetu Natwebagiria thiina; Twaroomba Murungu weetu, Atikarega kwigua.

Mawega jeetu jakeebua, Na mathiina joongeerwe, Twarega kwira Murungu Mobatu jeetu jonthe.

Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour

Jesu, Mwonokia, Ndakuthathayia; Watua kutharima baangi, Ugancinciitha Ni ndi maguruune jaaku Ngikwerencaga; Ninikumenya ndi wa meeyia Tuma ngwitikia Ngatiijira jaangi jonthe, Nkwinrigure Gwe; Ndi na murimo nkoroone, Nthambia mbagire Kithima kia mawega, Gwe, Kiumo kia Mwoyo; Nthiguru kana Iguru Mucoore no Gwe

What a Friend we have in Jesus

Twagerua ni muunthu weetu, Murimo jwatugwaata, Tukeejeni kugirika, Uteethio buri akui.

Kinya tugatungania nthi, Tugicwaaga muteethia, Tutikoomba kwona ungi Ung’uanene na Jesu.

Ndiiria maantu ja nthiguru Jagatunongia nkoro, Mweejani wa weega bunthe Agaatwa inya yaawe.

Twamenwa ni antu bonthe, Buu butigatumakia; Tontu Jesu Mutwonokia Kenya atigatuta

Iiga ria kenya, Jesu Rock of Ages Cleft for Me

Iiga ria kenya, Jesu Ngaciitha ndene yaaku; Ruuji o na tharike Biria gwe wetuurire Binthambie nkoro yaakwa, Keenda mbona wonokio.

Ngugi cia njara ciaakwa Itimbagirithagia; Wiiru bwaakwa buunene, O amwe na meethori, Bitikathiria meeyia; No Gwe ukambonokia Guti giintu ncgweetie, No mutharaba ngukaira; Ndi kithunu, mbikira

Rwambambio rwaaku ‘rwega; Nthambia mbere ntirakua, Kithimeene kia mwoyo Ntuku ciaakwa cia mwoyo Ikathira Naani nuke; Ndiiria nkeeja Iguru, Ngakwona rurigeene, Ukigambira eeyia, Nciithe rwaruune rwaaku.

Map to the Mwiti Family Home

Directions to the Mwiti Family Home Stage SafariPark Flyover --> Makutano Junction Makutano Junction --> KARI Embu KARI Embu --> Chuka Chuka --> Kamiritu Shopping Center

Road Thika Highway Meru-Nairobi Highway Meru-Nairobi Highway Meru-Nairobi Highway

Distance 74.8km 45.2km 40.5km 50.4km

Notes Turn right at the junction You will pass Mutithi police station 7.7km after Makutano Pass a gas station after 37.7km Destination will be on the right.

The family home is right next to the Kamiritu shopping centre