In Kenya, Catholic Bishop for Nakuru Appointed, Isiolo Vicariate Elevated to Diocese

Born in November 1967 in the Diocese of Nakuru, the Bishop-elect was ordained a Priest for the same Diocese in June 1995 after his Priestly formation at St. Augustine's Mabanga Senior Seminary in Bungoma Diocese, and at St. Matthias Mulumba Tindinyo Senior Seminary in Eldoret Diocese.

He holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from Le Moyne College in the United States of America (U.S.) and a Doctorate in Education from the Graduate Theological Foundation in the U.S.

As a Priest, the Bishop-elect has served in various capacities, including Parish Vicar of Njoro; Parish Vicar of the Holy Cross; Diocesan procurator; Diocesan treasurer; and Parish Priest of the Mary Mother of God Kabarnet Parish of Nakuru Diocese.

Outside Kenya, Mons. Oseso has served as the assistant Parish Priest of St. Ambrose, Endicott, Holy Family, and St. Margaret, Syracuse, in the Archdiocese of New York, U.S.

Once he is Ordained a Bishop, the Kenyan-born Priest will serve as the fourth Local Ordinary of the 18,149 square-kilometer Diocese that was erected in April 1968.

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The Diocese has a population of 614,043 Catholics, according to 2019 statistics, and is part of the Metropolitan See of Nairobi.

In his speech after he was announced Bishop-elect, Mons. Oseso expressed gratitude to the Holy Father for the appointment.

“I want to thank the Holy Father for entrusting this heavy responsibility upon me, but I believe in the men in this room and also those elsewhere, Religious men and women and our lay people that together, we will make it,” the Bishop-elect told members of the Clergy who gathered at St. Mary’s Pastoral Centre of Nakuru Diocese.

Bishop Kamau who has been serving as the Apostolic Administrator also expressed gratitude for the latest Episcopal appointment in Kenya and thanked the Clergy, women and men Religious and the Laity of Nakuru Diocese for their cooperation.

Meanwhile, the Holy Father has also elevated the Apostolic Vicariate of Isiolo to a Diocese and appointed Bishop Anthony Ireri Mukobo, who was assigned the Titular See of Rusguniae and has been serving as the Apostolic Vicar of Kenyan Vicariate as the Local Ordinary of the new Episcopal See.

Before elevation to a Diocese, Isiolo has been an Apostolic Vicariate since it was erected in December 1995.  

The new Episcopal See that is part of the Nyeri Ecclesiastical Province measures 25,700 square-kilometer with a population of 268,000, of which 66,000 are Catholics, according to the Vatican statistics.

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.