Archdiocese of Nairobi

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Bishop(s) John Njue, Cardinal, Archbishop David Kamau Ng'ang'a, Auxiliary Bishop Raphael S. Ndingi Mwana'a Nzeki, Archbishop Emeritus Suffragan Dioceses Kericho Kitui Machakos Nakuru Ngong

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese Elevated: 25 March 1953 Metropolitan See Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Kenya Square Kilometers: 3,271 (1,263 Square Miles) Mailing Address: P.O. Box 14231, Nairobi, Kenya Telephone: (02)441.919 Fax: 447.027

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Zanguebar
  • Erected: 26 February 1860
  • Country: Kenya

• Vicariate Apostolic of Zanguebar
  • Elevated: 23 November 1883
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Kenya

• Vicariate Apostolic of Zanzibar
  • Latin Name: Zansibariensis
  • Name Changed: 21 December 1906
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Kenya

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Jean-Marie-Raoul Le Bas de Courmont, C.S.Sp. † (27 Oct 1883 Appointed - 27 Nov 1896 Resigned)
• Emile-Auguste Allgeyer, C.S.Sp. † (17 Feb 1897 Appointed - 3 Apr 1913 Resigned)
• John Gerald Neville, C.S.Sp. † (1 Sep 1913 Appointed - 8 Mar 1930 Resigned)
• John Heffernan, C.S.Sp. † (15 Mar 1932 Appointed - 7 Jun 1945 Resigned)
• John Joseph McCarthy, C.S.Sp. † (11 Jul 1946 Appointed - 24 Oct 1971 Retired)
• Maurice Michael Otunga † (24 Oct 1971 Succeeded - 21 Apr 1997 Retired)
• Raphael S. Ndingi Mwana'a Nzeki (21 Apr 1997 Succeeded - 6 Oct 2007 Retired)
• John Njue (6 Oct 2007 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Zanguebar
26 February 1860	Erected	Diocese of Saint-Denis-de-La Réunion	Prefecture Apostolic of Zanguebar (erected) ((or 12 Nov 1862))
Vicariate Apostolic of Zanguebar
23 November 1883	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Zanguebar	Vicariate Apostolic of Zanguebar
16 November 1887	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Zanguebar	Prefecture Apostolic of Southern Zanguebar {Zanguebar Meridionale} (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Zanzibar
21 December 1906	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Zanguebar	Vicariate Apostolic of Zanzibar
Archdiocese of Nairobi
25 March 1953	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Zanzibar	Archdiocese of Nairobi
8 May 1955	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Nairobi	Diocese of Mombasa e Zanzibar (erected)
20 February 1956	Territory Lost	Diocese of Meru Archdiocese of Nairobi	Prefecture Apostolic of Kitui (erected)
20 October 1959	Territory Lost	Diocese of Kisumu Archdiocese of Nairobi	Prefecture Apostolic of Ngong (erected)
11 January 1968	Territory Lost	Diocese of Eldoret Diocese of Kisumu Archdiocese of Nairobi	Diocese of Nakuru (erected)
29 May 1969	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Nairobi	Diocese of Machakos (erected)

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Statistics

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 Zanzibar
1949	54,601	1,238,093	4.4%		83	83	657		83	120		ap1951
Archdiocese of Nairobi
1970	174,806	780,000	22.4%	13	89	102	1,713		103	319	43	ap1971
1980	423,315	1,582,421	26.8%	34	145	179	2,364		342	388	40	ap1981
1990	695,330	2,472,000	28.1%	63	215	278	2,501		581	596	58	ap1991
1999	1,007,150	4,000,936	25.2%	136	482	618	1,629		1,483	1,108	71	ap2000
2000	1,008,500	4,001,900	25.2%	142	482	624	1,616		1,402	1,129	76	ap2001
2001	1,009,200	4,002,600	25.2%	145	482	627	1,609		1,251	1,161	77	ap2002
2002	1,010,200	4,006,100	25.2%	148	513	661	1,528		1,373	1,179	79	ap2003
2003	1,218,100	4,010,100	30.4%	174	368	542	2,247		1,261	1,019	87	ap2004
2004	1,228,100	4,020,100	30.5%	104	374	478	2,569		1,290	1,034	90	ap2005

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

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Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Anthony Ireri Mukobo, I.M.C. (Auxiliary Bishop: 22 Dec 1999 to 25 Jan 2006)
• David Kamau Ng'ang'a (Priest: 10 Jan 1982; Auxiliary Bishop: 22 Dec 1999)
• Alfred Kipkoech Arap Rotich (Auxiliary Bishop: 9 Mar 1996 to 29 Aug 1997)
• Raphael S. Ndingi Mwana'a Nzeki (Priest: 31 Jan 1961 to 29 May 1969; Coadjutor Archbishop: 14 Jun 1996; Archbishop: 21 Apr 1997 to 6 Oct 2007)
• John Njue (Archbishop: 6 Oct 2007 - )

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Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Emile-Auguste Allgeyer, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 17 Feb 1897 to 3 Apr 1913)
• John Heffernan, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 15 Mar 1932 to 7 Jun 1945)
• Jean-Marie-Raoul Le Bas de Courmont, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 27 Oct 1883 to 27 Nov 1896)
• John Joseph McCarthy, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 11 Jul 1946; Archbishop: 25 Mar 1953 to 24 Oct 1971)
• John Gerald Neville, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 1 Sep 1913 to 8 Mar 1930)
• Maurice Michael Otunga † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 15 Nov 1969; Archbishop: 24 Oct 1971 to 21 Apr 1997)