Pope Francis has appointed Father George Muthaka, of the MCap. (Order of Friars Minor Capuchin) as the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Garissa.

Fr. Muthaka’s appointment was officially published in L’Osservatore Romano in Rome on 17th February 2022 at 12-noon Rome time and 2.00 p.m. Kenyan time.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan Archbishop Bert Van Megen also sent an official communication to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) communicating the same.

Until his appointment, Bishop-elect Muthaka was the Vicar General and the Finance Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Garissa.

He also worked as the Chairman of the Caritas Garissa Board.

Philip Anyolo was on Saturday morning officially installed as the fifth Archbishop of the Diocese of Nairobi at St Mary’s, Msongari.

This came a day after Nairobi Catholic Archdiocese faithful welcomed him, their new shepherd, in a day marked with colorful processions, song, dance and prayers.

Anyolo on Friday expressed his readiness to work with all Christians and the vast population of the capital city.

Anyolo’s journey on Friday to Holy Family Basilica in the heart of the capital city detouring to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Parish, in Ngarariga, Limuru and Saints Peter and Paul Kiambu Parish where the faithful welcomed him.

While expressing his excitement and eagerness to serve as the new archbishop of the Nairobi, Anyolo acknowledged the challenges ahead, as he takes over from John Cardinal Njue who retired last year, after attaining the age of 75, the mandatory retirement age for Catholic bishops.

“I’m very much encouraged, from the faces of the people whom I’ve met and from the welcome. I’m very much encouraged to work with the people of God in this diocese,” he said.

Holy Family Basilica, the seat of power in Nairobi Archdiocese was the day’s climax.

In line with the Catholic Liturgical procedures, Anyolo led special evening prayers known as the Vespers, on the eve of his installation.

The Pope’s representative in Kenya, Archbishop Bert van Megen, who was the principal installer in Saturday’s event at St Mary’s, Msongari was present.

Prior to his appointment, Anyolo has been the Archbishop of Kisumu since November 15, 2018.

He previously served as Bishop in Kericho and Homa Bay Dioceses. He hails from Tongaren, Bungoma and was ordained a priest on October 15, 1983.

Pope Francis has appointed Rt. Rev. Dominic Kimengich Bishop of Eldoret Diocese. Rt. Rev. Kimengich is currently the Bishop of Lodwar.

The Diocese of Eldoret fell vacant on 30th, October 2017, following the passing on of Rt. Rev. Cornelius Korir. Consequently, the Holy Father appointed the Bishop of Kitale, Rt. Rev. Maurice Crowley, as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese.

The news of the appointment of Bishop Kimengich was officially made public in Rome on Saturday, 16th, November, 2019 at noon. The letter of his appointment was sent to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) by the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, His Excellency Archbishop Bert van Megen.

Born on 23rd, April 1961, Bishop Kimengich was ordained as a priest of Nakuru Diocese on 14th, September 1986. He was appointed as an Auxiliary Bishop of Lodwar and Titular Bishop of Tanaramusa on 20th, March, 2010. Bishop Kimengich was ordained Titular Bishop of Tanaramusa on 22nd, May, 2010, and appointed Bishop of Lodwar on 5th, March, 2011.

NAIROBI, Kenya Nov 29 – Pope Francis has appointed Father Michael Otieno Odiwa to be the Homa Bay Diocese bishop.

The news of the appointment of Bishop Odiwa was relayed from Rome on Sunday, according to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) Chairman Archbishop Philip Anyolo.

Anyolo has been serving as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Homa Bay.

Bishop Anyolo was transferred by the Pontiff to the Archdiocese of Kisumu on 15th, November 2018.

Until his appointment, Bishop Odiwa has been working in the Archdiocese of Adelaide South Australia as an assistant Parish Priest.

He was in-charge of Italian speaking community of the Annunciation Church Hectorville Parish as well as a defender of Bond Tribunal of the province of Adelaide South Australia and Northern Territories.

He is also the former Vicar General of Homabay Diocese and the Parish Priest of the Homabay Cathedral.

He has also worked in the following Parishes: Asumbi, St John’s Seminary Rakwaro, Rakwaro, Ang’iya and Nyalieng’a.

He was born on 11th, November 1962 in Sori, Karungu and baptised in 1963 at Migori Parish.

He was ordained a Deacon on 17th, May 1992 and ordained a Priest for the Catholic Diocese of Homa Bay on 3rd, July 1993.

He studied Doctorate in Canon Law from Urbaniana University, Rome between 2000 and 2005.

He studied Spirituality at St. John’s Senior Seminary Molo 1986, Philosophy at St Augustine’s Senior Seminary Mabanga from 1987 to 1988 and Theology at St. Matthias Mulumba Kalemba Tindinyo from 1989 to 1992.

The appointment was relayed from Rome on Monday, according to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) which confirmed receiving Father Lagho’s letter of appointment from the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, Archbishop Hubertus van Megen.

Bishop-Elect Lagho succeeds the Late Bishop Emanuel Barbara who died in January 2018.

Until his appointment, Bishop Lagho has been the Vicar General and Head of Secretariat in Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa of Mombasa.

He is also the former Consultor in the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue (Rome) Italy.

In 2011-2016, he was the Chairperson of Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics Trust (CICC) Mombasa and in 2015-2016 he was Lead Consultant for the pilot study on Religion and Peace in East Africa sponsored by DANMISSION-Netherlands.

Bishop-Elect Lagho has been at the forefront of preaching peace amongst the people of Malindi and Mombasa to ensure unity and peaceful co-existence between the Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and traditionalists in the coastal region of Kenya.

In 2007-2008, he was a Pastor of Our Lady of Fatima (Kongowea) and Education secretary of Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa.

In 2002-2006, he also served as Rector and formator in St. Augustine’s Seminary (Bungoma).

In 2000-2001, he was the Formator and Lecturer in St Mathias Mulumba Seminary (Tindinyo).

In 1990-1992, Father Lagho also served as the Rector of St. Mary’s Minor Seminary (Kwale) in Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa.

In 1989-1990, he was a Parish Priest at Christ the King (Miritini) and Youth/Vocation Director, in 1987-1988 he was an Assistant Parish Priest at St Michel’s Parish (Giriama) and Youth/Vocation Director at the Archdiocese of Mombasa.

He was ordained a Deacon on 21st December 1985 and ordained a Priest on 25th April, 1987 in the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa.

Bishop-Elect Lagho holds a Diploma in Arabic Language from the Pontifical Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies (Rome), Licentiate in Arabic and Islamic Studies from the Pontifical Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies (Rome), Masters in Religious Studies from Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), Nairobi

In 1982-1986, he studied Theology at St Thomas Aquinas Seminary (Nairobi) prior to which between 1980-1982, he studied Philosophy at St Augustine’s Seminary Mabanga (Bungoma).

He attended secondary school at Queen of Apostles Minor Seminary, Nairobi and went on to pursue his A Level studies between 1978-1980 at St Charles Lwanga Secondary School, Mombasa where he also did his O Level in 1974-1978.

He attended St James Primary School in Mgange Dawida in Taita-Taveta County between 1965 and 1974.

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cardinal John Njue from the pastoral governance of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nairobi, Kenya, the Holy See Press Office announced on Monday.

Cardinal Njue, who was born in Kiriari, Embu District, Kenya, in 1944, has served as Archbishop of Nairobi since 2007.

Biography of Cardinal John Njue

Cardinal John Njue, Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Nairobi (Kenya), was born in 1944 at Kiriari, Embu District, Kenya. He was ordained a priest by Pope Paul VI on 6 January 1973. He holds a doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical Urbaniana University and a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Lateran University.

In 1974 he was appointed philosophy professor and dean of students at St. Augustine Senior Seminary, Mabanga in Bungoma, of which he was also rector from 1978 to 1982.

In 1982, he was appointed to Chuka Parish as its first African parish priest. He then served as rector of St. Joseph’s Philosophicum Seminary in Nairobi until his appointment on 9 June 1986 as the first Bishop of Embu. He was ordained bishop on 20 September of that year and then coadjutor Archbishop of Nyeri on 23 January 2002. From 2005-2006, he was Apostolic Administrator of the Vicariate of Isiolo. He was also Apostolic Administrator of the diocese of Murang’a (2006-2009).

On 6 October 2007 he was appointed Archbishop of Nairobi.

He has been chairman of various commissions, such as the Episcopal commission for major seminaries in Kenya and the Kenya Episcopal Conference’s Justice and Peace Commission.

From 2006 to 2015 he was president of the Kenya Episcopal Conference.

He participated in the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (October 2014) on The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization and in the XIV Ordinary General Assembly on The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World (October 2015).

He participated in the conclave of March 2013, which elected Pope Francis.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Benedict XVI in the consistory of 24 November 2007, of the Title of Preziosissimo Sangue di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo (Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ).