Reverend Mark Kadima has assumed office as the bishop of Bungoma catholic diocese following his appointment by Pope Francis in December 2021.
Bishop Kadima’s appointment was announced on December 14, 2021, through a publication in the L, Osseervatore Romano, the daily newspaper of Vatican City.
He was born in April in Kholera, Matungu sub-county in Kakamega county, and was ordained as a priest for the catholic diocese of Kakamega in October 2, 1993, he briefly worked as an assistant parish priest of Shiseso parish.
He went to Kholera Primary School from 1972 to 1978, St. Peter’s Minor Seminary, Mukumu, Kakamega from 1979 to 1982 and Tindinyo college between 1983 and 1984, after which he proceeded to St. Mary’s Major Seminary, Molo, for Propaedeutic Spiritual formation in 1985 and St. Augustine’s Senior Seminary, Mabanga in Bungoma for philosophical formation from 1986 to 1987.
Kadima then went to Pontifical Urbanian University in Rome where he pursued a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy (1987-1988), Theology (1988-1991), Licentiate in Canon Law (1991-1993.
Before he was appointed Bungoma bishop, Kadima served in the Vatican’s diplomatic service and once deployed to South Sudan as the pioneer apostolic nuncio.
Bishop Kadima speaks more than 10 languages.
During the event at St Marys’s Kibabii boys, Kadima received a bull as a farewell gift from Bishop Obanyi of the diocese of Kakamega county.
The representative of the holy father in Kenya has cautioned against clericalism which he said he had noted from his interactions with the people of God in the East African country including priests and bishops as they participate in the ongoing preparation for the synod.
During the celebration archbishop, Hubertus van Megen underscored the need for members of the clergy to be good shepherds according to the heart of Jesus actively listening to those under their pastoral care.
Martin Kivuva, the archbishop of Mombasa, who is the chairperson of catholic priests in Kenya urged the congregation and the politicians to have a peaceful election and to be united together as one and fight against killing and fighting during the election.