The Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Monsignor Mark Kadima as Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Bungoma.
The news of Monsignor Kadima’s appointment was officially published in L’Osservatore Romano in Rome on 14th December 2021 at 12-noon Rome time and 2.00 p.m. Kenyan time. The Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan, His Excellency Archbishop Bert Van Megen, also sent an official communication to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) communicating the same.
The Nuncio’s letter reads in part, “I have the honour and pleasure to inform you that Pope Francis has appointed the Reverend Monsignor Mark Kadima as Bishop of Bungoma.”
Bishop-Elect Kadima will be taking over from Rt. Rev. Norman King’oo who was transferred to the Catholic Diocese of Machakos on 23rd June 2018. The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kakamega Joseph Obanyi has been the Apostolic Administrator of Bungoma since then.
Bishop-elect Kadima was born on 30th April 1964 in Kholera, Kakamega, and was ordained a priest for the Catholic Diocese of Kakamega on 2nd October 1993.
He went to Kholera Primary School from 1972 to 1978, St. Peter’s Seminary Mukumu, Kakamega from 1979 to 1982, and Tindinyo College between 1983 and 1984, after which he proceeded to St. Mary’s Seminary Molo for Propaedeutic Spiritual formation in 1985 and St. Augustine’s Senior Seminary, Mabanga in Bungoma for Philosophical formation from 1986 to 1987. Bishop-elect Kadima then went to Pontifical Urbanian University in Rome where he pursued Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy (1987 – 1988), Theology (1988 – 1991), and Licentiate in Canon Law (1991 – 1993).
After his ordination to the priesthood in 1993, he briefly worked as a Parish Assistant at Shiseso Parish. On 16th August 1996, he was appointed as Rector of Saint Peter’s Mukumu. He was also appointed in various capacities as Diocesan Coordinator of Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, member of College of Consultors, Diocesan Canon Law Advisor, member of Diocesan Renewal Program Implementation Team of the African Synod, Member of the Board of Governors and Canon Law Society Kenya and member of the Kisumu Metropolitan Ecclesiastical Tribunal.
From 1999, Bishop-elect Kadima joined Pontifical Academia and he has been to different Apostolic Nunciatures as an Ecclesiastical Diplomat. Until his appointment, Monsignor Kadima was serving as Vatican’s Charge d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in South Sudan.