The Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi is factually the biggest archdiocese in Kenya, with approximately 4 million Catholics in 127 parishes and over 4,000 small Christian communities. Basically, the Archdiocese geographically covers entirely both Nairobi and Kiambu Counties, with approximately 3,721 square Kms. There are over 320 Catholic religious missions for consecrated lives for Priests, Brothers, and Sisters.
Over the years, the Archdiocese has had five Archbishops from its creation in the 1950s: John Joseph McCarthy Cssp (1953–1971), Maurice Cardinal Otunga (1971–1997), Raphael Mwana’a Nzeki (1997–2007), John Cardinal Njue (2007–2021), and currently Phillip Anyollo (2021 to date). It also has had a number of Auxiliary Bishops: Alfred Rotich, Anthony Ireri, Simon Peter Kamomoe, Wallace Ng’ang’a, and currently David Kamau and Obed Karubia.
The Archdiocese has over 65 health and pastoral care facilities, 15 spiritual retreat centres, 11 major seminaries (run by different missions), and one Minor seminary. However, a major milestone for the Archdiocese is the Caritas Microfinance Bank, headquartered at Cardinal Otunga Plaza at the Holy Family Basilica, Nairobi. It was founded in 2015 under the stewardship of His Eminence John Cardinal Njue, the Emeritus Archbishop. The Microfinance bank has registered over 150,000 account holders, competing with other Microfinance institutions regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya.
The Microfinance has its roots in the former social development office that ran several programmes e.g. Youth, PROMIC (empowered women economically), social justice, and the Self-help programme. Indeed, it was the self-help programme that gave birth to the Caritas Microfinance. The self-help programme was started in 1983 at Kiriko Parish, Gatundu North (partly area now covered by Kariminu Dam), by late His Eminence Maurice Cardinal Otunga through the work of late Rev. Fr. Joseph Mukui and Rev. Fr. Michael Mungai, aimed at helping Christians to save little monies and then guarantee among themselves for soft loans to enhance their economic wellbeing.
The programme grew very fast under then late Sister Teresa Wacheke from the Assumption Sisters of Nairobi, who later took over as Director of the rebranded program, now Caritas Nairobi, from Social Development programmes in the beginning of the 21st Century. This further expansion resulted in the construction of the Archdiocese headquarters, now Cardinal Otunga Plaza, in 2012. Before then, all operations of the Archdiocese, including the Directorate of Vocations, were managed in wooden offices housed at St. Peter Clavers Primary School. It is for this reason that the church should consider honouring Fr. Mukui and Sr. Wacheke with posthumous PhD Degrees through its Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) for the great work they did in uplifting the lives of the most vulnerable in our societies. Other individuals who impacted the savings program include Mr. John Chege of Kiangunu parish, Joseph Muranga from Umoja, among others.
The Archdiocese has taken the lead in enhancing education through its Catholic education office. Currently headed by Rev. Fr. Francis Kiarie, the diocesan education Secretary, the department supports over 107 Catholic-sponsored schools, offering teacher training and fundraising for needy students, including a students’ challenge fundraiser activity, Catholic Education Walk. There are other programmes that include the Catholic Men Association, which supports the boy child and funds a college project at Kamulu.
CPA Flavian Gatimu
Gatundu
cpakungugatimu@gmail.com
Flavian is an Accountant of Catholic faith
