REV. FR. PETER KIMANI APPOINTED AS THE NEW BISHOP OF EMBU
Rev. Fr. Peter Kimani Ndung’u has been appointed by Pope Francis as the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Embu. Prior to this appointment, he served as the National Chaplain for the Kenya Prisons Service.
Born on November 11, 1966, in Kamuchege village, Holy Family Githunguri Parish, Fr. Kimani is the son of the late Mr. Joseph Ndung’u and Janet Wambui. He began his secondary education at Queen of Apostles Junior Seminary in 1982, completing it in 1985, and continued with advanced certificate studies at the same seminary from 1986 to 1987. He pursued a diploma in philosophical and religious studies at the Apostles of Jesus Major Seminary from 1984 to 1990, followed by a Bachelor of Arts in Sacred Theology from 1991 to 1994. He was ordained a deacon in 1994 and a priest for the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi on July 22, 1995.
Fr. Kimani holds certificates in Counseling Skills for Rehabilitation of Offenders, Trauma Counseling Skills, and Staff Training for Correctional Leadership. He has served in various capacities, including:
– 1994 – 1995: Deacon at Holy Family Parish, Githunguri
– 1995 – 1999: Assistant Priest at Sts. Peter & Paul Parish, Kiambu
– 1999 – 2001: Father in Charge at Holy Rosary Parish, Kamwangi
– 2001 – 2024: National Chaplain of the Kenya Prisons Service
– 2008 – 2024: Africa Representative to the International Catholic Commission for Prison Pastoral Care (ICCPPC)
His work with the ICCPPC has taken him to countries such as Italy, Germany, Austria, the USA, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa.
During his welcome ceremony at the Cardinal Njue Pastoral Center in Embu, Archbishop Anthony Muheria of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri and outgoing Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Embu, congratulated the Bishop-Elect and urged both clergy and laity to collaborate. Fr. Kimani emphasized the importance of working together in the spirit of synodality, stating, “I know of the intensity of the work ahead and I am ready to take up the work given to me by God. I call on you to come, let us work together in the spirit of synodality as it calls us to talk and journey together. I ask for your prayers and your love so the fruits of love can be manifested in God’s work.”
He further expressed his commitment to servant leadership, saying, “I believe in the spirit of servant leadership where I come second, and you guide. Let us promote the Spirit of God to guide us. It’s not that I was the best, but this came as a surprise, especially since I have very little pastoral experience in a parish as I was serving the prisoners. I therefore look forward to growth and learning in all of us working together.”
The Diocese of Embu, established on June 9, 1986, serves the pastoral needs of the faithful in the region. The Bishop leads the diocese, which consists of various parishes and institutions dedicated to spiritual and community development.
Fr. Kimani succeeds Bishop Paul Kariuki Njiru, who served as Bishop of Embu from May 9, 2009, until his transfer to the Diocese of Wote on July 22, 2023. The Diocese of Embu has also been under the administration of Archbishop Anthony Muheria as Apostolic Administrator from September 30, 2023, until Fr. Kimani’s installation.
