Meru (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Salesius Mugambi, Bishop
Jackson Murugara, I.M.C., Coadjutor Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 7 May 1953
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Nyeri
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Kenya
Square Kilometers: 9,546 (3,687 Square Miles)
Description: Meru and TharakaNithi
Official Web Site: https://catholicdioceseofmeru.org
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 16, 60200 Meru, Kenya
Telephone: 721.491.149; 733.607.660

Past and Present Ordinaries

Giovanni Balbo, I.M.C. † ( 1926 Appointed - 1929 Resigned)
Carlo Re, I.M.C. † ( 1930 Appointed - 1936 Resigned)
José Nepote-Fus, I.M.C. † (16 Sep 1936 Appointed - 7 Aug 1948 Appointed, Apostolic Administrator of Rio Branco)
Lorenzo Bessone, I.M.C. † (3 Mar 1954 Appointed - 7 Apr 1976 Died)
Silas Silvius Njiru † (9 Dec 1976 Appointed - 18 Mar 2004 Retired)
Salesius Mugambi (18 Mar 2004 Succeeded - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Meru
10 March 1926	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Kenya	Prefecture Apostolic of Meru (erected)
Diocese of Meru
7 May 1953	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Meru	Diocese of Meru
14 June 1954	Territory Added		Diocese of Meru Diocese of Nyeri
20 February 1956	Territory Lost	Diocese of Meru Archdiocese of Nairobi	Prefecture Apostolic of Kitui (erected) (Kitui)
25 January 1965	Territory Lost	Diocese of Meru (Eastern Part of Marsabit)	Diocese of Marsabit
25 October 1967	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Nairobi (Garissa)	Diocese of Meru
25 October 1967	Territory Added	Diocese of Mombasa (Tana River)	Diocese of Meru
12 January 1973	Territory Lost	Diocese of Meru (Ekarakara) Diocese of Nyeri (Ithanga Hills)	Diocese of Machakos
31 August 1973	Territory Added	Diocese of Nyeri (Timau (except near Nanyuki and west of Oltulili river))	Diocese of Meru
22 September 1973	Territory Added	Diocese of Nyeri (Isiolo)	Diocese of Meru
9 December 1976	Territory Lost	Diocese of Mombasa (Tana River and Lamu) Diocese of Meru (North Eastern Province)	Prefecture Apostolic of Garissa (erected)
9 June 1986	Territory Lost	Diocese of Meru (Embu)	Diocese of Embu (erected)
21 May 1990	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Meru (from Nairobi)
15 December 1995	Territory Lost	Diocese of Meru (Isiolo)	Vicariate Apostolic of Isiolo (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Prefecture Apostolic of Meru

1949 11,873 308,000 3.9% 22 22 539 29 37 9 ap1951

Diocese of Meru

1970 142,300 1,043,600 13.6% 20 44 64 2,223 57 121 26 ap1971

1980 262,705 1,118,000 23.5% 21 36 57 4,608 54 131 29 ap1981

1990 466,285 1,398,856 33.3% 26 38 64 7,285 56 153 30 ap1991

1999 676,252 2,018,250 33.5% 41 47 88 7,684 65 272 31 ap2000

2000 689,777 2,623,725 26.3% 69 48 117 5,895 66 272 34 ap2001

2001 710,470 1,950,000 36.4% 82 41 123 5,776 59 285 36 ap2002

2002 713,550 1,950,585 36.6% 80 38 118 6,047 57 291 38 ap2003

2003 720,685 2,050,000 35.2% 83 41 124 5,811 62 237 38 ap2004

2004 737,821 2,152,535 34.3% 93 45 138 5,346 69 283 40 ap2005

2013 846,000 2,724,000 31.1% 127 41 168 5,035 58 398 60 ap2014

2016 906,554 2,920,091 31.0% 154 44 198 4,578 71 402 64 ap2017

2019 984,100 3,166,900 31.1% 136 32 168 5,857 59 402 77 ap2020

2021 1,036,855 3,336,685 31.1% 143 44 187 5,544 71 369 80 ap2022

2023 1,085,500 3,491,480 31.1% 175 45 220 4,934 72 432 85 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Prefecture Apostolic of Meru
1949	11,873	308,000	3.9%		22	22	539	29	37	9	ap1951
Diocese of Meru
1970	142,300	1,043,600	13.6%	20	44	64	2,223	57	121	26	ap1971
1980	262,705	1,118,000	23.5%	21	36	57	4,608	54	131	29	ap1981
1990	466,285	1,398,856	33.3%	26	38	64	7,285	56	153	30	ap1991
1999	676,252	2,018,250	33.5%	41	47	88	7,684	65	272	31	ap2000
2000	689,777	2,623,725	26.3%	69	48	117	5,895	66	272	34	ap2001
2001	710,470	1,950,000	36.4%	82	41	123	5,776	59	285	36	ap2002
2002	713,550	1,950,585	36.6%	80	38	118	6,047	57	291	38	ap2003
2003	720,685	2,050,000	35.2%	83	41	124	5,811	62	237	38	ap2004
2004	737,821	2,152,535	34.3%	93	45	138	5,346	69	283	40	ap2005
2013	846,000	2,724,000	31.1%	127	41	168	5,035	58	398	60	ap2014
2016	906,554	2,920,091	31.0%	154	44	198	4,578	71	402	64	ap2017
2019	984,100	3,166,900	31.1%	136	32	168	5,857	59	402	77	ap2020
2021	1,036,855	3,336,685	31.1%	143	44	187	5,544	71	369	80	ap2022
2023	1,085,500	3,491,480	31.1%	175	45	220	4,934	72	432	85	ap2024

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Giovanni Balbo, I.M.C. † (Prefect: 1926 to 1929)
Lorenzo Bessone, I.M.C. † (Bishop: 3 Mar 1954 to 7 Apr 1976)
José Nepote-Fus, I.M.C. † (Prefect: 16 Sep 1936 to 7 Aug 1948)
Silas Silvius Njiru † (Priest: 17 Dec 1955; Auxiliary Bishop: 2 Oct 1975; Bishop: 9 Dec 1976 to 18 Mar 2004)
Carlo Re, I.M.C. † (Prefect: 1930 to 1936)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Meru
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 18, Page 374
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 45, Page 705, to Page 710
Diocese of Meru
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 46, Page 33, to Page 35
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 47, Page 154, and Page 155
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 59, Page 1,066, and Page 1,067
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 65, Page 509
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 65, Page 608, and Page 609
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 82, Page 938

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Diocese of Meru

Dioecesis Meruensis

Bishop(s)

General Information

Historical Details

Past and Present Ordinaries

Historical Summary

Statistics

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Source(s)