His Lordship Rt. Rev. Joseph Mwongela has announced the establishment of a new parish in Iiani, to be officially opened on 6th January 2026. The official communication has been made through a memorandum released from the Bishop’s Office addressed to the Priests, Religious Men and Women and the Christians of the Catholic Diocese of Kitui. The Parish will be curved from St. James Muthale Parish.
According to the memo, the new parish will be known as St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, Iiani .”Having sought and heard the counsel of the Presbyteral Council of the Diocese of Kitui, and in accordance with the norms of Canon 515 §1, I hereby announce the establishment of Iiani Parish, to be entrusted to St. Theresa of the Child Jesus under the title ST. THERESA OF THE CHILD JESUS PARISH, IIANI, to be established on 6th January 2026,” read the memo.
The Catholic Diocese of Kitui currently has 36 parishes distributed across six deaneries as follows: Northern (5), Western 8, Central (7), Southern (5), Eastern (7) and Yatta (4)
The first parish to be opened before Kitui became a diocese was Mutune Parish in 1945, followed by Muthale Parish in 1948. Other additional parishes included Kimangao, Ikanga, Boma, Mwingi, and Mutomo, bringing the total to seven.
After Kitui was established as a diocese, 29 parishes have been opened as follows:
1963–1973: 4 parishes
1973–1983: 4 parishes
1983–1993: 3 parishes
1993–2003: 4 parishes
2003–2013: 2 parishes
2013–2023: 9 parishes
2024: 2 parishes
2025: 1 Parish
As per, the Diocesan Pastoral Strategic Plan 2024–2028, themed “A Call to Mission and Self-Reliance”, the Diocese aims to open at least 10 new parishes by 2028. Proposed parishes include Inyuu, Muumbuni, Kathivo, Kwa Mutonga, Kaveta, Mathulini, Tharaka, Tseikuru among others.