Nyeri (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Anthony Muheria, Archbishop
Peter Joseph Kairo, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 21 May 1990
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Kenya
Square Kilometers: 8,450 (3,263 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://adnyeri.org/
Mailing Address: Catholic Secretariat, P.O. Box 288, 10100 Nyeri, Kenya
Telephone: 721.785.169
Fax: (061)2030.435

Historical Details

Mission "Sui Iuris" of Kenya
- Erected: 14 September 1905
- Country: Kenya
Vicariate Apostolic of Kenya
- Latin Name: de Kenya
- Elevated: 12 July 1909
- Vicariate
- Country: Kenya
Vicariate Apostolic of Nyeri
- Latin Name: Nyeriensis
- Name Changed: 10 March 1926
- Vicariate
- Country: Kenya
Diocese of Nyeri
- Latin Name: Nyeriensis
- Elevated: 25 March 1953
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Nairobi
- Country: Kenya

Past and Present Ordinaries

Filippo Perlo, I.M.C. † (15 Jul 1909 Appointed - 18 Nov 1925 Resigned)
Giuseppe Perrachon, I.M.C. † (18 Dec 1925 Appointed - 18 Oct 1930 Resigned)
Carlo Re, I.M.C. † (13 Dec 1931 Appointed - Nov 1946 Resigned)
Charles (Carlo) Maria Cavallera, I.M.C. † (19 Jun 1947 Appointed - 25 Nov 1964 Appointed, Bishop of Marsabit)
Caesar Gatimu † (25 Nov 1964 Appointed - 20 Feb 1987 Died)
Nicodemus Kirima † (12 Mar 1988 Appointed - 27 Nov 2007 Died)
Peter Joseph Kairo (19 Apr 2008 Appointed - 23 Apr 2017 Retired)
Anthony Muheria (23 Apr 2017 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Mission "Sui Iuris" of Kenya
14 September 1905	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Zanguebar	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Kenya (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Kenya
12 July 1909	Elevated	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Kenya	Vicariate Apostolic of Kenya
20 February 1922	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Zanzibar	Vicariate Apostolic of Kenya (Boundaries adjusted)
10 March 1926	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Kenya	Prefecture Apostolic of Meru (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Nyeri
10 March 1926	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Kenya	Vicariate Apostolic of Nyeri
3 January 1931	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Zanzibar (Laikipia)	Vicariate Apostolic of Nyeri
3 January 1931	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Nyeri (Limuru)	Vicariate Apostolic of Zanzibar
Diocese of Nyeri
25 March 1953	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Nyeri	Diocese of Nyeri
14 June 1954	Territory Added		Diocese of Meru Diocese of Nyeri
25 November 1964	Territory Lost	Diocese of Nyeri (Marsabit and Samburu)	Diocese of Marsabit (erected)
28 July 1965	Territory Added	Diocese of Eldoret (Western part of Nyandarua)	Diocese of Nyeri
12 January 1973	Territory Lost	Diocese of Meru (Ekarakara) Diocese of Nyeri (Ithanga Hills)	Diocese of Machakos
31 August 1973	Territory Lost	Diocese of Nyeri (Timau (except near Nanyuki and west of Oltulili river))	Diocese of Meru
22 September 1973	Territory Lost	Diocese of Nyeri (Isiolo)	Diocese of Meru
17 March 1983	Territory Lost	Diocese of Nyeri (Muranga and Kirinyaga)	Diocese of Muranga (erected)
Archdiocese of Nyeri
21 May 1990	Elevated	Diocese of Nyeri	Archdiocese of Nyeri
5 December 2002	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Nyeri (Nyandarua and western part of Laikipia)	Diocese of Nyahururu (erected)

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

Vicariate Apostolic of Nyeri

1950 40,180 750,000 5.4% 8 44 52 772 67 142 19 ap1951

Diocese of Nyeri

1969 293,000 1,497,000 19.6% 31 58 89 3,292 96 242 33 ap1971

1980 620,000 1,658,000 37.4% 36 50 86 7,209 82 207 40 ap1981

Archdiocese of Nyeri

1990 514,427 1,138,085 45.2% 56 14 70 7,348 52 149 27 ap1991

1999 534,786 1,179,786 45.3% 86 14 100 5,347 57 195 48 ap2000

2000 556,449 1,180,964 47.1% 91 14 105 5,299 59 171 54 ap2001

2001 658,502 1,867,606 35.3% 102 14 116 5,676 64 170 53 ap2002

2002 733,950 1,924,264 38.1% 100 10 110 6,672 56 169 53 ap2003

2003 476,870 790,327 60.3% 100 4 104 4,585 5 177 28 ap2004

2004 476,870 790,327 60.3% 100 4 104 4,585 5 177 28 ap2005

2013 106,000 211,000 50.2% 114 9 123 861 28 155 43 ap2014

2016 517,003 1,511,955 34.2% 139 6 145 3,565 79 203 50 ap2017

2019 560,000 1,639,000 34.2% 153 11 164 3,414 70 211 53 ap2020

2021 588,900 1,723,680 34.2% 161 14 175 3,365 98 250 52 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Nyeri
1950	40,180	750,000	5.4%	8	44	52	772	67	142	19	ap1951
Diocese of Nyeri
1969	293,000	1,497,000	19.6%	31	58	89	3,292	96	242	33	ap1971
1980	620,000	1,658,000	37.4%	36	50	86	7,209	82	207	40	ap1981
Archdiocese of Nyeri
1990	514,427	1,138,085	45.2%	56	14	70	7,348	52	149	27	ap1991
1999	534,786	1,179,786	45.3%	86	14	100	5,347	57	195	48	ap2000
2000	556,449	1,180,964	47.1%	91	14	105	5,299	59	171	54	ap2001
2001	658,502	1,867,606	35.3%	102	14	116	5,676	64	170	53	ap2002
2002	733,950	1,924,264	38.1%	100	10	110	6,672	56	169	53	ap2003
2003	476,870	790,327	60.3%	100	4	104	4,585	5	177	28	ap2004
2004	476,870	790,327	60.3%	100	4	104	4,585	5	177	28	ap2005
2013	106,000	211,000	50.2%	114	9	123	861	28	155	43	ap2014
2016	517,003	1,511,955	34.2%	139	6	145	3,565	79	203	50	ap2017
2019	560,000	1,639,000	34.2%	153	11	164	3,414	70	211	53	ap2020
2021	588,900	1,723,680	34.2%	161	14	175	3,365	98	250	52	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Charles (Carlo) Maria Cavallera, I.M.C. † (Vicar Apostolic: 19 Jun 1947; Bishop: 25 Mar 1953 to 25 Nov 1964)
Caesar Gatimu † (Priest: 17 Mar 1947; Auxiliary Bishop: 18 Apr 1961; Bishop: 25 Nov 1964 to 20 Feb 1987)
Nicodemus Kirima † (Priest: 22 Dec 1962 to 27 Feb 1978; Bishop: 12 Mar 1988; Archbishop: 21 May 1990 to 27 Nov 2007)
Filippo Perlo, I.M.C. † (Vicar Apostolic: 15 Jul 1909 to 18 Nov 1925)
Giuseppe Perrachon, I.M.C. † (Vicar Apostolic: 18 Dec 1925 to 18 Oct 1930)
Carlo Re, I.M.C. † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Dec 1931 to Nov 1946)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Kenya
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 1, Page 621, and Page 622
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 14, Page 164, and Page 165
Vicariate Apostolic of Nyeri
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 23, Page 370, and Page 371
Diocese of Nyeri
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 45, Page 705, to Page 710
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 47, Page 154, and Page 155
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 57, Page 734
Archdiocese of Nyeri
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 82, Page 938

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Archdiocese of Nyeri

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