Thousands of Catholic faithful flocked at the St. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Karurina in a colorful ceremony to celebrate the Diocese’s 37th Anniversary, open the John Cardinal Njue Pastoral Center and to bid farewell to outgoing Embu Bishop Paul Kariuki who was recently erected the Pioneer Bishop of the newly created Catholic Diocese of Wote in Makueni County-which was carved from the larger Diocese of Machakos. The appointment of Rt. Rev. Paul Kariuki Njiru as the first Bishop of the newly established Diocese was sanctioned by Pope Francis. Here is Bishop Kariuki’s journey…
Paul Kariuki Njiru was born in Kyeni, Embu East. After schooling, he studied at St. Joseph’s seminary and then St. Thomas Aquinas seminary in Nairobi. In 1991 the Pontifical Urban University awarded him a bachelor’s degree for his studies while in Kenya. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Embu on March 1, 1993. As a parish priest, he worked in Kairuri parish and served as diocesan youth chaplain. He was the education secretary for Catholic schools in Embu Diocese. Having studied for six years in Rome, he was then awarded an S.T.L. (1999) and an S.T.D. (2002) in Biblical Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. Pope Benedict XVI nominated him Bishop of Embu on May 9, 2009. He was ordained Bishop on July 25 the same year, a position he has held until his recent appointment.
Kariuki is also currently the chairman of the Catholic Health Commission of Kenya, a commission formed by the Kenyan Bishops’ Conference. As chairman, he has oversight of the 58 hospitals, 83 health centers, 311 dispensaries, and 17 medical training institutions owned and operated by the Catholic Church in Kenya.
