Pope Francis appoints Rev. Mark Kadima as Bishop of Bungoma

Mark Kadima is the new Bungoma Diocese bishop. [Standard]

Pope Francis has appointed Reverend Mark Kadima, 57, as the Bishop of Bungoma Catholic Diocese, taking over from Reverend Norman King’oo, who was transferred to Machakos Diocese.

Following King’oo’s transfer on June 23, 2018, Kakamega Diocese Bishop, Joseph Obanyi, held down the fort.

News of Kadima’s appointment was on Tuesday noon, December 14, published in the L’Osservatore Romano, the daily newspaper of Vatican City.

Kadima was born on April 30, 1964 in Kholera, Matungu Sub-County in Kakamega County, and was ordained a priest for the Catholic Diocese of Kakamega on October 2, 1993.

He attended Kholera Primary School from 1972 to 1978, St. Peter’s Seminary Mukumu, Kakamega from 1979 to 1982, and Tindinyo College between 1983 and 1984.

He, thereafter, 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.

Kadima then went to Pontifical Urbanian University in Rome, where he pursued a 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 in Ikolomani, Kakamega County.

On August 16, 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, Kadima joined Pontifical Academia and he has been to different Apostolic Nunciatures as an Ecclesiastical Diplomat.

Until his appointment, Kadima was serving as Vatican’s Charge d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in South Sudan.