The Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi stands as Kenya’s largest, encompassing approximately 4 million Catholics across 127 parishes and more than 4,000 small Christian communities. The archdiocese geographically spans both Nairobi and Kiambu Counties, covering an area of about 3,721 square kilometers. It hosts over 320 Catholic religious missions serving consecrated lives for Priests, Brothers, and Sisters.
Throughout its history since the 1950s, the Archdiocese has been led by five Archbishops: John Joseph McCarthy Cssp (1953–1971), Maurice Cardinal Otunga (1971–1997), Raphael Mwana’a Nzeki (1997–2007), John Cardinal Njue (2007–2021), and the current Phillip Anyollo (2021 to date). Additionally, it has had several Auxiliary Bishops including Alfred Rotich, Anthony Ireri, Simon Peter Kamomoe, Wallace Ng’ang’a, and currently David Kamau and Obed Karubia.
The Archdiocese operates over 65 health and pastoral care facilities, 15 spiritual retreat centres, 11 major seminaries (managed by different missions), and one Minor seminary. A significant achievement is the Caritas Microfinance Bank, headquartered at Cardinal Otunga Plaza within the Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi. Established in 2015 under the leadership of His Eminence John Cardinal Njue, the Emeritus Archbishop, the bank has registered more than 150,000 account holders, competing with other microfinance institutions regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya.
The microfinance initiative originated from the former social development office that managed various programs including Youth, PROMIC (which economically empowered women), social justice, and the Self-help program. The Self-help program, launched in 1983 at Kiriko Parish in Gatundu North (partially now covered by Kariminu Dam), was initiated by the late His Eminence Maurice Cardinal Otunga through the efforts of late Rev. Fr. Joseph Mukui and Rev. Fr. Michael Mungai. Its purpose was to assist Christians in saving small amounts of money and guaranteeing soft loans among themselves to improve their economic well-being.
The program expanded rapidly under the guidance of the late Sister Teresa Wacheke from the Assumption Sisters of Nairobi, who later became Director of the rebranded Caritas Nairobi, transitioning from Social Development programs at the beginning of the 21st Century. This growth led to the construction of the Archdiocese headquarters, now known as Cardinal Otunga Plaza, in 2012. Prior to this, all Archdiocese operations, including the Directorate of Vocations, were conducted in wooden offices at St. Peter Clavers Primary School. For their significant contributions in uplifting the lives of society’s most vulnerable, the church should consider honoring Fr. Mukui and Sr. Wacheke with posthumous PhD Degrees through the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Other individuals who influenced the savings program include Mr. John Chege of Kiangunu parish and Joseph Muranga from Umoja, among others.
The Archdiocese has pioneered educational advancement through its Catholic education office, currently led by Rev. Fr. Francis Kiarie, the diocesan education Secretary. This department supports over 107 Catholic-sponsored schools, providing teacher training and fundraising for disadvantaged students. Initiatives include the students’ challenge fundraiser activity, the Catholic Education Walk, and the Catholic Men Association, which supports the boy child and funds a college project at Kamulu.