NAIROBI FEBRUARY 24, 2017(CISA)-Pope Francis has appointed Fr Benjamin Kituto Maswili the Apostolic Administrator of the Military Ordinariate in Kenya.

In a statement sent to CISA today signed by Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops General Secretary, Fr Daniel Rono, Fr Maswili was appointed on December 30, 2016 to oversee the military service.

The position fell vacant after Bishop Alfred Rotich’s retirement in 2013 aged 55 years, the maximum period required to serve in the military service.

Until his appointment Fr Maswili, a religious priest from the Congregation of the Apostle of Jesus was serving as the Principal Chaplain in the Military Ordinariate.

Fr Rono congratulated Fr Maswili on the appointment and requested all Christians to pray for him as he takes up his new role.

In an interview with Waumini News, Fr Maswali said that his immediate work will be to offer spiritual and psychological support to the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) soldiers and families affected by the attacks and killings by al-Shabaab while on a peace keeping mission in Somalia.

“We need to train more catechists and priests to help in counseling the affected families of fallen soldiers and wounded soldiers to be able to live a normal life again,” he said.

He added that, he will promote Pontifical Missionary Childhood (PMC) amongst the children under his care to ensure that Christianity is embraced in their families.