Newly Consecrated Bishop of Kenya’s Embu Diocese Calls for Strengthened Family Values and Support of Vocations

“Let us work together especially as we celebrate the 50 years of Small Christian Communities in the AMECEA region,” he said, and added, “Let us do a re-evangelization of our Jumuias (SCCs). Let us give them a renewed purpose and make them a real church in our neighbourhood, where our families and our youths find belonging and spiritual care.”

Pope Francis appointed Bishop Ndung’u the Local Ordinary of Embu Diocese on August 15, filling the gap that had been left following the transfer of Bishop Paul Kariuki Njiru to Kenya’s Diocese of Wote.

Credit: Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN)

Born in November 1966, Bishop Ndung’u started his Priestly formation at St. Mary's Propaedeutic Seminary, Molo, in Kenya’s Diocese of Nakuru.

He had his philosophical and theological studies at the Apostles of Jesus Major Seminary and the St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Nairobi respectively.

The newly Consecrated Bishop was ordained a Priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN) in July 1995.  Following his Priestly ordination, he served as assistant Parish Priest, Parish Priest, and representative for Africa of the International Catholic Prison Pastoral Care (ICCPPC), among other Priestly duties.

Credit: Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN)

Until his Episcopal appointment, Bishop Ndung’u served in the Kenya Prison Service as the National Chaplain, a role he took in 2001.

Bishop Ndung’u holds a Diploma in psychological support for the rehabilitation of prisoners with subsequent update at the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI).

He comes in as the fourth Local Ordinary of Embu Diocese that measures 2,714 square kilometers with a population of 336,530 Catholics, representing 52.4 percent of the total population of the territory of the Diocese, according to 2023 Vatican statistics. 

Credit: Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN)

In his speech at the November 16 event, Bishop Ndung’u thanked the Holy Father’s representative in Kenya, Archbishop Hubertus van Megen, saying, “Your love for the Church in Kenya has ensured that all the Dioceses in this country have Bishops.”

The newly Consecrated Kenyan Bishop also made a pledge to the Clergy and women and men Religious ministering in Embu Diocese to always walk and work together with them towards their common mission. “I look forward to an exciting and fulfilling journey in my pastoral work among you,” he said.

Thanking the pastoral caregivers he had worked with at the Kenya Prisons Service for 23 years, Bishop Ndung’u said, “I will pray for the success of the work that you do in bringing back honour and dignity to those involved in crime and deviance. 

Credit: Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN)

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Meanwhile, speaking at the November 16 Episcopal Consecration event, the Chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) announced the creation of the new Commission of Youth Apostolate, previously a department of the Commission for Pastoral and Lay Apostolate. 

Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba explained, “Realizing how important this section (youths) of our society is, we can no longer deal with it as a Department under a Commission.”

Credit: Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN)

Archbishop Muhatia also announced that the newly Consecrated Bishop had been elected Assistant Chairman of the newest KCCB Commission that will have Bishop Henry Juma Odonya of the Catholic Diocese of Kitale as the pioneer Chairman.

Thanking the Chairman of KCCB, who announced the latest administrative changes in the Nairobi-headquartered forum of Kenya’s Catholic Bishops, Bishop Peter said, “I promise to collaborate with you, and with the rest of the commission in carrying out this mission.”