Rt. Rev. John Mbua Mwandi is the son of Joseph Mwandi Vilingi and Beatrice Mutwa Mwandi. He was born on 24th September 1970 in Thitani Village, Kitui County. He is the firstborn in a family of twelve children, comprising seven boys and five girls.
Bishop John began his primary education at Thitani Primary School in 1980 and successfully completed his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in 1988. In 1989, he joined Nguutani Secondary School, where he completed his secondary education in 1992.
In 1993, he joined St. Mary’s Senior Seminary, Molo, for his spiritual formation. He later pursued philosophical studies at St. Augustine’s Senior Seminary from 1994 to 1995, before proceeding to St. Matthias Mulumba Senior Seminary, Tindinyo, where he undertook his theological studies from 1996 to 2000.
Following his seminary formation, he was ordained to the Order of Diaconate on 31st May 2001 and appointed to serve at Mutomo Parish. He was later ordained a priest on 8th December 2001, alongside Rev. Fr. Dominic Ngui, by the late Archbishop Boniface Lele at Our Lady of Africa Cathedral, Kitui.
Following his ordination to the priesthood, Bishop John was appointed to Ikutha Parish, where he served as Assistant Priest (Curate) from January to June 2002. In June 2002, he was appointed Parish Priest of Miambani Parish, where he served until December 2005. During this period, he also served as Dean of the Eastern Deanery.
In January 2006, he was transferred to St. Paul’s Ikanga Parish as Parish Priest, serving until December 2006. He was subsequently appointed Parish Priest of Boma Parish, where he served faithfully from January 2007 to August 2011.
Between 2007 and 2008, Bishop John pursued a Diploma in Project Management at the Kenya Institute of Management.
From August 2011 to December 2020, Bishop John served as the Diocesan Financial Administrator. During his tenure, he spearheaded the introduction of the CDoK Integrated Financial Management System, which continues to enhance financial accountability and transparency within the Diocese.
He also served as the second Vicar General from 2016 to December 2020. In December 2020, he was appointed Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Kitui. While serving in this capacity, he was also appointed Parish Priest of Holy Spirit Parish, Mulutu, in December 2024.
Alongside his responsibilities as Vicar General, Bishop John coordinated international partnerships with the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis in the United States, the Diocese of Peoria in the United States, and partners in Ireland.
On 27th May 2026, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop John Mbua Mwandi as the fifth Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kitui. He was ordained and installed as the fifth Bishop of the Diocese on 8th August 2026.
Throughout his ministry in the Diocese, Bishop John has served on numerous Diocesan Boards and Committees, including the College of Consultors, Kitui Pastoral Centre, Radio Thome, GASP, Muthale Mission Hospital, Mutomo Mission Hospital, the Diocesan Finance Committee, Caritas Board, Diocesan Tribunal, Vocation Commission, and various other Diocesan Commissions and Committees.
Bishop John has a keen interest in pastoral ministry, counselling, and moral studies. His hobbies include physical fitness, reading books on counselling and inspirational stories, visiting friends, and socializing.