President Uhuru Kenyatta and Pope Francis had been sitting in an office in State House for nearly an hour on November 25, 2015 as Peter Gichohi pondered how he could have a quick word with the Bishop of Rome.
Mr Gichohi was one of the police officers attached to President Kenyatta’s personal security detail.
But for him, being a Catholic came first, and this was probably the only chance he would ever get to meet the Pope, let alone have his rosary blessed.
He was no stranger to meeting powerful people, some of them world-famous. Just four months earlier, he had been part of the same security team when then US President Barack Obama visited Kenya.
But this was different. Especially, for a staunch Catholic such as Mr Gichohi.
Pope Francis gives a speech on November 25, 2025 at State House, Nairobi during his visit to Kenya. He is with then president Uhuru Kenyatta (right).
Photo credit: Gerald Anderson
“It was an honour to interact with the pope, the highest ranking person in the Catholic church. It was one of the major milestones in my life as a catholic,” Mr Gichohi said in an interview with the Nation in his office at the Central police station in Nairobi.
The police officer knew it would only take a few seconds for Pope Francis to walk from his office door to the exit of State House, and that would be the end of his mission to have a rosary blessed by the Pope himself.
The tall, dark-skinned and clean-shaven police officer dressed in a suit and black tie stood all alone in the hallway leading to President Kenyatta’s office.
Watching, waiting, thinking. Being alone in the hallway meant no crowds, which eliminated any competition for a papal blessing.
At exactly 6.18 pm, the office door swung open.
As President Kenyatta and Pope Francis walked out, Mr Gichohi’s instincts kicked in.
With his heart pounding, Mr Gichohi took the direct approach. He strode up to the most powerful man in the Catholic Church, waving as he reached into his pocket and produced a rosary.
Pope Francis noticed the wave, and started walking towards the police officer. President Kenyatta and a host of high-ranking bureaucrats followed the Pope.
It could have been the fear of not knowing whether his superiors would react negatively to his act, or perhaps he was star-struck. There were no words to ask for this blessing.
The rosary beads rested in the palm of his right hand, which was thrust forward like a secret dying to be told. His left hand, filling the gap left by his mouth, took over and pointed to the rosary.
Like any priest, Pope Francis knew what the signal meant - a sheep in his flock hoping for the blessing of his rosary. The Pope obliged.
Pope Francis having a word with President Uhuru Kenyatta after he arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on November 25, 2015 as he starts his three-day tour.
Photo credit: Pool
President Kenyatta stood behind them, watching and smiling.
Within seconds, the blessing was complete. But Pope Francis wasn't.
The Pope reached into his pocket, pulled out a rosary and handed it to Mr Gichohi.
The rosary was yellow, with a picture of Pope Francis in the middle.
For Mr Gichohi, it is the greatest treasure he has, and he says there is not enough money in the world to take it away from him.
“I keep it in my safe. It is one of the few things that I hope to take to my grave,” Mr Gichohi said, smiling as he recalled the day 10 years ago.
Later when Pope Francis was in Kasarani, he mentioned to a crowd that he always walks with a personal rosary and a pocket Bible. He mentioned that he had gifted the rosary to someone.
Since the death of the Pope, Mr Gichohi has been following the news and events of the man who spared 40 seconds to give the police chief one of the most memorable moments of his entire life.
“I am not an avid newspaper reader, but since the death of Pope Francis, I read a lot and follow news about him and the preparations for his interment,” Gichohi added.
The coffin of Pope Francis is carried during the funeral Mass of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 26, 2025.
Photo credit: Reuters
Pope Francis died on April 21, Easter Monday, at 7.35 am.
Much like the more than 1.4 billion Catholics across the world, Mr Gichohi will be keenly following the Pope’s burial on April 26.
