Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Joseph Maluki Mwongela, until now bishop of Kitui, as coadjutor bishop of Machakos, Kenya.
Bishop Joseph Maluki Mwongela was born on 17 April 1968 in Kakumi. He completed the preparatory year at Saint Mary’s Senior Seminary, and carried out his studies in philosophy at Saint Augustine’s Senior Seminary in Mabanga and in theology at Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Nairobi.
He was ordained a priest on 7 September 1996.
After ordination, he held the roles of parish vicar of Migwani (1996.1997), parish priest of Ngumi (1997-1998), formator at Saint Patrick Formation House (1999-2001), diocesan chancellor and director of the diocesan office for vocational pastoral care (2001-2003). He carried out specialist studies in Rome for a licentiate in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University and a doctorate in theology at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas “Angelicum” (2003-2008), and went on to serve as parish priest of Muthade (2008-2013), director of the Saint John Paul II Institute of Professional Studies and parish priest of Boma (2014-2015), and vicar general of the diocese of Kitui (2015-2020).
On 17 March 2020 he was appointed bishop of the diocese of Kitui and received episcopal consecration the following 29 August. (Agenzia Fides, 4/1/2026)
