News
BISHOP JOSEPH MAIRURA OKEMWA MARKS 31 YEARS OF EPISCOPAL MINISTRY IN THE DIOCESE OF KISII.
Happy 31st Episcopal Anniversary, Bishop Joseph Mairura Okemwa. Ad Multos Annos!
Watch Getembe TV Live
Broadcast Getembe TV Live Stream
Listen Getembe FM Live
Tune in to Getembe FM Live Broadcast
The Catholic faithful today celebrate the 31st Episcopal Anniversary of Bishop Joseph Mairura Okemwa, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kisii, marking 31 years since his episcopal consecration on July 21, 1995. The occasion is a celebration of more than three decades of devoted pastoral leadership that has transformed the Catholic Church in the Gusii region.
Bishop Joseph Mairura Okemwa was born on June 29, 1954, in Gesoni Village, Bogeka Ward, Kitutu Chache South Constituency, Kisii County, in the home of the late Simon Okemo. He was the third-born in a family of fifteen children. Raised at the foot of the Kisii highlands by parents deeply rooted in Christian values, his early life laid the foundation for a vocation that would eventually shape the spiritual lives of hundreds of thousands of Catholics.
He began his education at Kipkebe Tea Estate then Mongorisia Primary School & Nyaore primary School. Although he had been scheduled to join Nakuru High School, he discerned a higher calling and instead enrolled at St. John's Seminary, Rakwaro, where he began his formation for the Catholic priesthood. He later proceeded to St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary for philosophical and theological studies, excelling in academics and spiritual formation.
Following his ordination to the priesthood on October 27, 1987, Bishop Okemwa's intellectual ability saw him sent to Rome for advanced studies, where he pursued a Doctoral Degree in Philosophy. However, before completing his doctoral studies, his life took a dramatic turn when Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Kisii on December 19, 1994. He returned home to receive episcopal ordination on July 21, 1995, at St. Charles Lwanga Cathedral, Kisii, with the ceremony presided over by the late Cardinal Maurice Michael Otunga, assisted by the late Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth and the then Bishop John Njue, who later became Kenya's Cardinal.
When Bishop Okemwa succeeded the late Bishop Tiberius Charles Mugendi, the Diocese of Kisii had 15 parishes serving approximately 300,000 Catholic faithful. Through visionary leadership, missionary zeal, and a strong emphasis on evangelization, he has overseen remarkable growth. Today, the diocese has expanded to 44 parishes, with St. Matthias Mulumba Parish – Iranda becoming the newest parish established under his leadership. During the same period, the Catholic population in the Diocese of Kisii has grown to more than 750,000 faithful, making it one of Kenya's largest and fastest-growing dioceses.
A defining feature of Bishop Okemwa's episcopal ministry has been his commitment to nurturing priestly vocations. During his 31 years as bishop, he has ordained numerous diocesan priests who continue to serve both within and beyond the Diocese of Kisii. Among those he inspired is Bishop Joseph Obanyi Sagwe bishop of Kakamega the Apostolic Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret, who has often acknowledged Bishop Okemwa's influence on his vocation to the priesthood. Bishop Obanyi was among the second group of priests ordained by Bishop Okemwa in 1996, and years later, Bishop Okemwa would preside over his episcopal consecration on May 23, 2015, at Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega County, symbolizing the lasting fruits of his mentorship and leadership.
Beyond evangelization, Bishop Okemwa has remained a strong advocate for education, recognizing it as a vital pillar for social and spiritual transformation. Under his leadership, the Diocese of Kisii has expanded support for Catholic-sponsored schools, strengthened seminaries and catechetical training centres, and established new educational institutions aimed at providing quality learning opportunities for young people across the Gusii region. His commitment has enabled thousands of learners to access education while strengthening the Catholic Church's contribution to academic excellence and moral formation.
His ministry has equally focused on healthcare, social justice, family values, youth empowerment, and care for the vulnerable through Catholic health institutions and charitable programmes. Throughout periods of political uncertainty, Bishop Okemwa has consistently urged Kenyans to embrace peace, reject violence and corruption, uphold justice, and remain united regardless of ethnic or political differences. His episcopal motto, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free" (John 8:32), continues to define his pastoral approach.
With 31 years of episcopal ministry, Bishop Joseph Mairura Okemwa ranks among Kenya's longest-serving active Catholic bishops and remains one of the country's most experienced diocesan bishops. His leadership has earned him immense respect within the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and among Catholics across the country for his humility, simplicity, wisdom, and unwavering dedication to the mission of the Church.
As the Diocese of Kisii commemorates this historic anniversary, priests, religious, and hundreds of thousands of Catholic faithful join in thanksgiving to Almighty God for Bishop Okemwa's faithful service. They continue to pray that God grants him good health, wisdom, strength, and many more years of fruitful pastoral ministry as he continues to shepherd Christ's flock.
Happy 31st Episcopal Anniversary, Bishop Joseph Mairura Okemwa. Ad Multos Annos!
Watch Getembe TV Live
Broadcast Getembe TV Live Stream
Listen Getembe FM Live
Tune in to Getembe FM Live Broadcast
How do you feel about this article?
Let us know by choosing a reaction below.
#kisii
#BishopJosephMairuraOkemwa
#KisiiDiocese
#CatholicChurch
#CatholicKenya
#EpiscopalAnniversary
#31YearsOfService
#FaithAndLeadership
#AdMultosAnnos
#CatholicFaith
#Bishop
#Okemwa
#Gusii
#KenyaConferenceOfCatholicBishops
#KCCB
#ChurchLeadership
#Priesthood
#Evangelization
#CatholicCommunity
#ChristianFaith
Comments 0
Please log in to participate in the comments section.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!
Related Stories
Have a news tip?
Do you have an investigation, local story or news event you think we should cover? Contact our newsroom directly.
Submit Tip
Mobile App
Download Getembe Digital App Today
Download Getembe Digital App today for live news updates, breaking notifications, and seamless live streaming.