On Eve of Installation, Kenyan Catholic Bishop Appointed Military Ordinary Lauded for Discipline, Good Work Ethic

In Kenya, the Military Ordinariate has been under successive Apostolic Administrators since Bishop Alfred Kipkoech Arap Rotich retired in December 2016.

The Military Ordinariate, as established in the April 1986 Apostolic Constitution on spiritual assistance to the Military, Spirituali Militum Curae, is dedicated to addressing the pastoral needs of the personnel of the armed forces and their families. 

A residential Bishop known as “Military Ordinary” leads the Ordinariate that is staffed by military Chaplains. Unlike traditional Dioceses, the Military Ordinariate is not confined to a specific geographical area; instead, it serves wherever the nation's military personnel are located.

Since Bishop Rotich’s retirement as Military Ordinary, two Apostolic Administrators have been at the helm of Kenya’s Military Ordinariate: Mons. Benjamin Maswili, who was appointed in December 2016; and Mons. John Njue Njeru, appointed on January 30.

Until his February 13 Episcopal appointment, Bishop Wallace served as the Pastoral Coordinator of the ADN and Parish Priest of Queen of Apostles Ruaraka Parish of ADN, and was Consecrated Bishop on April 6 alongside Bishop Simon Peter Kamomoe as Auxiliary Bishop of ADN. 

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In his homily during the October 11 farewell Mass, Bishop Kamau lauded Bishop Wallace’s cordiality, a trait that is said to have earned him endearment among those he interacted with.

“In his interaction with Clergy and Religious, Bishop Wallace has demonstrated approachability, always listening with the heart, and open to the concerns of those he serves,” Bishop Kamau said.

He added, “This humility has endeared him to many, and his leadership style characterized by understanding is one that will serve him well in his new role as the Bishop of the Military Ordinariate.”

He said that in the Archdiocese of Nairobi, Bishop Wallace had served with unwavering dedication even in the face of challenges and had “touched countless lives with the love of Christ.”

Pledging the support of ADN in Bishop Wallace’s new mission, Bishop Kamau said, “This Archdiocese where his vocation was nurtured will always remain his home.”

“As we celebrate this transition in Bishop Wallace’s ministry, this is not a departure from his roots in Nairobi. His heart will remain with us and his mission is simply an expansion of his love and care,” he said.

A native of ADN, where he was born in March 1973, Bishop Wallace had his Priestly formation and studies at St. Augustine's Senior Seminary Mabanga in Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Bungoma and St. Matthias Mulumba Senior Seminary Tindinyo in the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret, Kenya, respectively, both under the auspices of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB). He was ordained a Priest for ADN in May 2005.

The Catholic Church leader, who serves as Chairman of the Commission for Social Communications of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) obtained a master’s degree in Pastoral Theology from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA).

As a Priest, he served as the Assistant Parish Priest of Regina Coeli Parish Karen, and Parish Priest of Christ the King Church Embakasi, among other Priestly duties.

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.