Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Jackson Murugara, IMC, as the Coadjutor Bishop of Meru. The announcement was officially published in L’Osservatore Romano in Rome on Thursday, January 16, 2025. The Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, His Excellency Archbishop Bert Van Megen, conveyed the news to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) through an official communication.
Fr. Murugara, who has been serving at the Consolata Shrine in Westlands, Nairobi, will now step into a new role of spiritual leadership and responsibility in his home diocese.
Born in 1970 in Kamanyaki, Tharaka Nithi County, Meru, Fr. Murugara is the fifth child in a family of ten. His journey toward the priesthood began with his education at Muthitwa Primary School, followed by studies at Mitiri Boys’ School and St. Pius X Minor Seminary in Nkubu, Meru. Demonstrating early commitment to his faith, he pursued a degree in Philosophy and Religious Studies at Consolata Philosophicum from 1993 to 1996 and graduated from the Pontifical Urbanian University in Rome.
His religious journey deepened when he entered novitiate at Sagana in 1996, taking his first religious vows in 1997. Between 1997 and 2001, he studied Theology at the Missionary Institute of London, affiliated with Middlesex University. On November 18, 2000, he made his final religious profession, followed by his ordination to the diaconate and his priestly ordination on August 15, 2001, at Matiri Parish in Meru.
Fr. Murugara’s service has been marked by diverse roles and responsibilities. He began his pastoral journey in Kagaene Parish and served in Mujwa and Chiga parishes. From 2003 to 2009, he worked as a formator for postulants at Consolata Seminary, shaping future clergy.
He further advanced his studies, earning a Licentiate in Spirituality with first-class honors from Teresianum University in Rome (2009–2011). Upon his return, he served at Bethany House in Sagana, focusing on retreats, Christian formation, and managing a charity home for elderly women.
Most recently, Fr. Murugara has been based at Consolata Shrine in Nairobi, where he has continued his mission of spiritual guidance and pastoral care.
Fr. Murugara’s appointment as Coadjutor Bishop of Meru is a recognition of his unwavering dedication to the Church and the community. His extensive experience in pastoral care, formation, and spiritual leadership positions him as an ideal shepherd for the diocese.
As Coadjutor Bishop, Fr. Murugara is expected to assist in overseeing the spiritual and administrative affairs of the diocese, ensuring a seamless transition in leadership when required. His elevation signifies a new chapter for the faithful in Meru, filled with hope and renewed commitment to the mission of the Church.
