Pope Francis has established the Diocese of Wote in Makueni County and appointed Rt. Rev. Paul Kariuki Njiru, the current bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Embu, as the new bishop.
The news was officially published on L’Osservatore Romano, a Vatican publication on Saturday, July 22 and confirmed by Archbishop Bert van Megen. The appointment has since been communicated to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB).
During his visit to Kenya in June, 2023, Archbishop Bert van Megen hinted at the possibility of establishing a new diocese in the region. He assured Makueni residents that the Pope was aware of the situation in Wote, Makueni County, and would soon make a decision.
During van Megen's visit, Bishop Norman King’oo Wambua of Machakos made a case on behalf of the people of Makueni calling for the establishment of a new Diocese in Wote.
Who is Bishop Paul Kariuki?
Bishop Paul Kariuki, was born on March 11, 1963, in Kathunguri in Embu County. He studied Philosophy at St. Joseph Seminary, Meru, and Theology at St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Lang’ata.
On March 1, 1993, he was ordained a priest and subsequently served as the Priest at Kairuri Parish. Following his studies abroad, he was appointed Priest of Kithimu Parish and Secretary of the Diocesan Commission for Education.
In addition to his pastoral duties, Bishop Paul Kariuki held significant positions within the national church's administrative bodies.
He has served as the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) and as a member of the Executive Board of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA).
Context
The Catholic Diocese of Machakos was established on May 29, 1969, following its separation from the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi.
It has since grown to encompass over 80 parishes and was served by approximately 245 priests by the end of 2021. The diocese's jurisdiction covers Machakos and Makueni counties.
The recently established Catholic Diocese of Wote is situated in the largest town in Makueni County, Wote. The county, according to the 2019 census, has a population of 987,653 and shares borders with Machakos to the North, Kitui to the East, Taita Taveta to the South, and Kajiado to the West.
