The Catholic Diocese of Kitui traces its origins to October 1956, when it was established as an Apostolic Prefecture and entrusted to the St. Patrick’s Missionary Society. It was elevated to the status of a Diocese on 16th November 1963, with Bishop William Dunne becoming its first Bishop.
The Gospel was first proclaimed in Kitui by the Holy Ghost Fathers from Kabaa, Machakos, in 1939. The Consolata Missionaries later opened Kimangao Parish and evangelized the northern region of the Diocese. The first mission station was established at Mutune in 1945, laying the foundation for the growth and development of the local Church.
The Diocese celebrated the ordination of its first diocesan priests, Fr. Peter Muema and the late Archbishop Boniface Lele, on 8th December 1974. Archbishop Boniface Lele later became the second Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kitui serving from 2nd February 1996 until 2005, when he was appointed Archbishop of Mombasa.
Following his transfer, the Diocese was administered by Fr. Paul Healy until May 2007, when Most Rev. Martin Kivuva was appointed Apostolic Administrator. In 2008, Most Rev. Anthony Muheria became the third Bishop of Kitui and was installed on 9th August 2008. He served the Diocese until 2017, when he was appointed Archbishop of Nyeri. He continued to serve as the Diocesan Apostolic Administrator until 29th August 2020.
On 17th March 2020, Rt. Rev. Joseph Mwongela was appointed the fourth Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kitui and was installed on 29th August 2020. He faithfully shepherded the Diocese until 4th January 2026, when His Holiness Pope Leo XIV appointed him Coadjutor Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Machakos. He was officially received in the Diocese of Machakos on 19th March 2026 at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos. On the same day, the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya announced that Bishop Mwongela would continue serving as the Apostolic Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Kitui until the appointment and installation of his successor. He served as the Apostolic Administrator until 8th August 2026.
On 27th May 2026, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV appointed Rt. Rev. John Mbua Mwandi as the fifth Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kitui. Prior to his appointment, Bishop John Mbua Mwandi served as the Vicar General of the Diocese of Kitui and as Father in Charge of Mulutu Parish. He was ordained and installed as the fifth Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kitui on 8th August 2026 at St. Charles Lwanga Senior School Kitui by Most. Rev. Philip Anyolo, succeeding Rt. Rev. Joseph Mwongela.
The Catholic Diocese of Kitui covers the entire Kitui County and forms part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Nairobi. It occupies approximately 30,496.4 square kilometres in the arid and semi-arid region of Eastern Kenya and serves a Catholic population of approximately 271,393 faithful.
The Diocese comprises 37 parishes organized into six deaneries: Northern (5), Western (9), Central (7), Southern (5), Yatta (4), and Eastern (7). The local Church is served by 112 diocesan priests, 10 deacons, 61 seminarians, two missionary priests of the Holy Ghost Fathers serving at Kamuw’ongo Parish, and one Jesuit priest serving at Nyumbani Village.
The Diocese is further enriched by the presence of several Congregations of Religious Brothers and Sisters who contribute to the mission of the Church through pastoral ministry, education, healthcare, evangelization, and social outreach. The Diocese is also blessed with its own Diocesan Religious Congregation, the Daughters of Jesus the Good Shepherd (DOJGS), whose members continue to make a significant contribution to the mission of the local Church.
Through the Bishop’s Office and its various departments, including Pastoral, Education, Health, Finance, Caritas, and Vocations, the Diocese continues to proclaim the Gospel and promote the holistic development of the people of God. In collaboration with priests, religious men and women, and the lay faithful, the Diocese remains committed to building a vibrant local Church rooted in faith, communion, service, and the mission of Christ.
Our Vision
To be a Christ-Centered and Christ-modeled community
Our Mission
To bring about the Kingdom of God through advocating for peaceful coexistence, evangelization, charity and works of Mercy.
Our Core Values
The Diocese of Kitui believes in the following core values and seeks to live and promote them in all aspects of her life.
- Love for God, Love of Neighbour
- Dignity – We are guided and live by Christian values that always promote the life and dignity of the human person in all circumstances.
- Equity – We believe everyone deserves a dignified life, and fair access to justice and opportunities, this includes caring for the poor and vulnerable
members of our community. - Solidarity, community, and participation.
- Call to family – We believe that family is the first step towards creating a strong church, it should be prioritized.
- Faithfulness, Peace, and Forgiveness.
- Honesty, Integrity, and Responsible stewardship
- Care for the Environment – In all our actions, we strive to protect the environment; we strive for an optimal balance between human and
environmental wellbeing. - Social Justice