[Anglican Communion News Service] Former primate of the Anglican Church of Kenya, Archbishop David Gitari, died Sept. 30 in Mater Hospital in Nairobi following a an illness. He was 72.

Within hours of his passing, media reports were describing him as a fearless priest who challenged injustice and fought for mutlipartism in the country.

Gitari was consecrated as a bishop in 1975 and served as the church’s third primate from 1997 to 2002.

He was also a member of the Anglican Consultative Council, the Anglican Communion’s main policy-making body, in the 1980s. Gitari was heavily involved with theological education and ecumenism. He was also a published writer.

A statement is expected from the Anglican Church of Kenya tomorrow morning.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby released a statement paying tribute to Gitari here.