Pope Francis appoints Rt. Rev. Maurice Muhatia as Archbishop of Kisumu Arch-Diocese.
By Rev. Sr. Adelaide Ndilu and Rose Achiego Ande. The Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed Rt. Rev. Maurice Muhatia Makumba as the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kisumu.
The news of Bishop Muhatia’s appointment was officially published in L’Osservatore Romano in Rome on 18th February 2022 at 12-noon Rome time and 2.00 p.m. Kenyan time. The Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan, His Excellency Archbishop Bert Van Megen, also sent an official communication to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) communicating the same.
Archbishop elect Muhatia has been the Apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Kisumu from 20th November 2021, following the transfer and appointment of Most Rev. Philip Anyolo as the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi. Until his appointment, he was the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Nakuru, a position he has held since 19th December 2009.
He is currently the Vice Chairman of KCCB and Principal Administrator of Kenya Catholic Secretariate. He has also served as the Chairman of KCCB – Commission for Education and Religious Education (CERE) and part-time National Executive Secretary for KCCB – Commission for Doctrine.
Archbishop elect Muhatia was born on 19th May 1968, in Lirhanda village, under St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Shibuyi, Catholic Diocese of Kakamega. After completing secondary school at St. Charles Lwanga, he joined St. Mary’s Major Seminary where he studied spirituality and introduction to seminary life. He studied philosophy at St. Augustine Major Seminary and theology at St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary.
He then went to Rome, Italy, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree at Urbaniana Pontifical University and a master’s degree and Doctorate in philosophy at Pontifical Holy Cross University.
He was ordained a priest for the Catholic Diocese of Kakamega on 15th October 1994. After ordination he held the following positions: 1994, Assistant Parish Priest of St. Joseph Parish in Kakamega. 1995-1998, Vice Rector of St. Peter Minor Seminary in Mukumu. 2002-2005, Vice Rector at St. Augustine Major Seminary, Mabanga. 2005-2007, Interim Dean at St. Mathias Mulumba Major Seminary in Tindinyo. 2007, Rector at St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Nairobi.