Pope Francis has moved Bishop Paul Kariuki Njiru from Embu to the newly erected Catholic Diocese of Wote. Wote is a town in Makueni County, the former Eastern Province.
Wote town has six wards: Kako, Kaumoni, Kikumini, Muvau, Nziu and Wote. Makueni County has a population of 987,653 (2019 Census). It comprises of Yekanga location, Kanthuni, Ivinganzia, Mavindini, Muusini, Kiunoni and katithi. Athi River and Kibwezi River are the only permanent rivers serving the entire county. The majority of the populations depend on surface and subsurface dams for water, which often do not hold sufficient water due to high evaporation rates during the dry seasons.
In 2019 Bishop Paul Kariuki strongly defended William Ruto over his countrywide tours of developments, suggesting that he was the right candidate to be elected president. Speaking on Sunday at St Peter and Paul Cathedral Parish in Embu, the bishop compared Ruto’s political enemies to houseflies that are always bothered by the handwork of a bee (Ruto).
Bishop Kariuki blamed Ruto’s political enemies for always finding faults and staying blind to the many development projects he had initiated across the country. The Bishop was quoted to have said: “Wako kama inzi, kazi yake inatafuta pale kumeoza. Wanaanza kuambia nyuki wacha kutangatanga kama vile Deputy President anaambiwa anatangatanga,” amid laughter from the congregation.
He further said: “Hawaoni ile kazi anayoifanya kusema hii barabara itengenizwe, tuwekewe maji hapa. Nyuki anafanya kazi, inzi anasema unatangatanga… Deputy President, endelea kutangatanga hakuna shida.” “Wacha 2022 itafika. Hiyo mnasema kieleweke itafika… mtaweza kuelewa hamkujua,” he said.
The bishop later said his comments on the Kieleweke and Tangatanga factions of Jubilee were misunderstood.
Paul Kariuki Njiru was born in Kyeni, Embu. After his secondary school, he studied at St. Thomas Aquinas seminary in Nairobi. In 1991 Pontifical Urbaniana University awarded him a Bachelor’s degree in Theology. Pope Benedict XVI elected him Bishop of Embu on May 9, 2009. He was consecrated bishop on July 25. Currently he is the chairman of the Catholic Health Commission of Kenya, a commission formed by the Kenyan Bishops’ Conference.
As chairman, he has oversight of the 58 hospitals, 83 health centers, 311 dispensaries, and 17 medical training institutions owned and operated by the Catholic Church in Kenya.

By Rev Fr Joakim Omolo