The Bishop Catholic Diocese of Marsabit Peter Kihara marks 27 Years since Episcopal Appointment

By Silvio Nangori

Bishop Peter Kihara Kariuki of Catholic Diocese of Marsabit is marking 27 years since his appointment as a bishop, a journey that began in 1999 and has seen him serve the Catholic Church in both Murang’a and Marsabit dioceses.

Born on February 6, 1954, in Thunguri Village, Othaya, Nyeri, Rt. Rev. Peter Kihara joined the Consolata Missionaries in 1976. He was ordained a priest on December 16, 1983, as a member of the Consolata Missionaries.

Following his priestly ordination, Fr. Kihara was sent as a missionary to Colombia in 1984, where he worked for a period. After completing a Formation Course in Rome, he returned to Kenya and served as a formator at Allamano House, the IMC Theological Seminary in Nairobi.

He later worked at the Consolata Novitiate in Sagana, first as an assistant and subsequently as novice master until August 1998.

On June 3, 1999, Fr. Kihara was appointed Bishop of Murang’a. He was ordained bishop on September 11, 1999, becoming the shepherd of the Diocese of Murang’a, where he served for seven years.

On November 25, 2006, he was appointed Bishop of Marsabit and was installed on January 25, 2007, succeeding Bishop Ambrogio Ravasi, IMC, who had led the diocese since 1981.

As Bishop of Marsabit, Bishop Kihara has overseen a diocese established by Pope Paul VI after being carved from the Diocese of Nyeri. The Diocese of Marsabit covers approximately 78,078 square kilometres in northern Kenya and serves a region inhabited by several communities.

This year’s anniversary marks 27 years since Bishop Kihara’s episcopal appointment and highlights a ministry that has included missionary service, priestly formation and episcopal leadership in the Catholic Church in Kenya.