KENYA: Pope Francis Appoints Bishop for Kenya’s Military Ordinariate and Embu Diocese
Bishop Wallace Ng'ang'a
By Sr. Adelaide Ndilu and Rose Achiego Ande
The Holy Father, Pope Francis has appointed Rt. Rev. Wallace Ng’ang’a the Bishop of the Military Ordinariate and Rev. Fr. Peter Kimani Ndu’ngu the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Embu.
The news of the appointments was officially published in L’Osservatore Romano in Rome on 15th August 2024, at 12:00 pm Rome time and 1:00 pm Kenyan time.
His Excellency Archbishop Bert van Megen, the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, also conveyed the message of the appointments to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) through an official communication.
Bishop Wallace Ng’ang’a
Until his appointment, Bishop Ng’ang’a was the Auxilliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi following his Apostolic Ordination and Installation on 6th April 2024. He was appointed Bishop on 14th February 2024 and he is currently serving at the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) as the Chairman of the Commission for Social Communications and Vice Chairman of the Commission for Pastoral and Lay Apostolate.
Brief Biography
Bishop Wallace began his spiritual journey at St. Mary’s Molo Seminary in 1996 for his Spiritual Year. Subsequently, from 1997 to 1998, he pursued his philosophical studies at St. Augustine Major Seminary Mabanga. His theological studies took place from 1999 to 2003 at St. Mathias Mulumba Major Seminary in Eldoret. Additionally, he holds a Masters in Pastoral Theology from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (C.U.E.A).
Bishop Wallace received priestly ordination on 21st May 2005. He has served in various parishes, including St. John the Evangelist parish Githiga, where he initially served as a deacon, and later at Sts. Peter and Paul Kiambu. Following his priestly ordination, he was appointed as the assistant Father-in-Charge at the same parish. He also served at St. Peter the Apostle Kikuyu Parish as the Father in Charge.
He has also served as the Pastoral Coordinator of the Archdiocese of Nairobi, He worked at Christ the King Embakasi as a Parish Priest and served as the Fr. In Charge at Queen of Apostles Parish, Ruaraka.
Brief Biography for Bishop-Elect Peter Kimani Ndung’u
The Bishop-Elect was born in 1966 to the late Mr. Joseph Ndung’u and Janet Wambui in Kamuchege village, Holy Family Githunguri Parish. He joined Queen of Apostles Junior Seminary in 1982 for his secondary education and completed in 1985. From 1986 to 1987 he continued his advanced certificate of education in the same seminary.
He later joined the Apostles of Jesus Major Seminary from 1984 to 1990 for a diploma in philosophical and religious studies. From 1991 to 1994 he undertook a bachelor of Arts in Sacred Theology. He was ordained a deacon in 1994 and in 1995, he was ordained a priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi.
The Bishop-Elect has obtained the following certificates: Counselling Skills for Rehabilitation of Offenders; Trauma Counselling Skills, and a Certificate in Staff Training for Correctional Leadership.
He has served in the following parishes and offices:
1994 – 1995: Deacon at Holy Family Parish, Githunguri
1995 -1999: Assistant Priest at St. Peter & Paul Kiambu
1999 – 2001: Father in Charge at Holy Rosary Parish, Kamwangi
2001 to date: National Chaplain of Kenya Prison Service
2008 to date: Representative to International Catholic Commission for Prisons Pastoral Care – (ICCPPC), Africa representative.
He has traveled far and wide as a representative to ICCPPC – Italy, Germany, Austria, USA, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa among others.
