Pope Names Bishop of Bungoma, Kenya

Reverend Mark Kadima, of the Clergy of Kakamega

Bungoma Kenya
Christ the King Cathedral, Bungoma

The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of the diocese of Bungoma, Kenya, the Reverend Mark Kadima, of the clergy of Kakamega, until now chargé d’affaires at the apostolic nunciature in South Sudan.

Msgr. Mark Kadima was born on April 30, 1964, in Kakamega, in the diocese of the same name. He attended the local Kholera Primary School, secondary school at Saint Peter’s Minor Seminary of Kakamega, and Tindinyo College.

After the preparatory year at Saint Mary’s Senior Seminary, Diocese of Nakuru (1985), he began his studies in philosophy in Saint Augustine’s Senior Seminary of Mabanga, diocese of Bungoma (1986-1987), which he completed at the Pontifical Urban University of Rome (1987-1988), where he was also awarded a bachelor’s degree and a licentiate in theology (1988-1993).

He was ordained a priest on October 12, 1993, and incardinated in the diocese of Kakamega.


After ordination, he held the roles of teacher in Saint Peter’s Minor Seminary in Kakamega and, at the same time, assistant in the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary parish in Shiseso (1993-1996) and rector of the same minor seminary (1996-1999). He carried out further studies at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome, and for a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Urban University (1999-2001).

He entered the Holy See diplomatic service on July 1, 2001, and has served in the pontifical representations in Colombia, Angola, Ghana, Bangladesh, Greece, and Brazil. From April 27, 2018, he has served in the apostolic nunciature in South Sudan.

The Diocese of Bungoma used to be part of Kakamega Diocese as one of its parishes. As the Catholic faithful increased, the administrative concerns grew bigger that it was deemed necessary to separate Bungoma including some parishes, thereby its inauguration as a new Diocese in 1987.

The parish of Christ The King is one of the 32 parishes and being the parish where the cathedral is located, it is the center of convergence for the Catholic faithful in the Diocese. It is headed by a Parish Priest with one assistant Priest.