By Paschal Norbert
NAIROBI, AUGUST 16, 2024 (CISA) – Rt Rev Wallace Ng’ang’a Gachihi, the auxiliary bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi has expressed his readiness to embrace his new role as the Ordinary of the Military Ordinariate of Kenya.
In an interview with CISA on August 16, Bishop Wallace despite only being four months into his role as auxiliary of Nairobi, revealed that he is approaching this new challenge with dedication, openness and trust in God.
“I have served for just over four months since my ordination as a bishop. The news of my appointment was a surprise to me, as I felt I had not yet fully acclimated to the episcopal role or understood its operations,” Bishop Wallace admitted, saying “Nonetheless, we are ordained to serve, and when the Holy Father extended this call, I accepted it with an open heart. I am prepared to serve within the Military Ordinariate.”
On August 15, 2024, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Wallace to lead the Military Ordinariate of Kenya, marking a significant moment as he becomes the third bishop to guide the ordinariate since its erection in 1964. This historic appointment continues the legacy of Bishop Alfred Rotich of Kericho, who retired from his role in the military ordinariate in 2016. Notably, Bishop Rotich himself had stepped into the role after a brief tenure as Auxiliary Bishop of Nairobi, reflecting a similar journey of service and dedication.
In this new role and while acknowledging his initial lack of familiarity with the military operations, Bishop Wallace is upbeat, committed to learning and adapting to the change in his episcopal journey.
“Admittedly, I am quite new to the military context. Unlike those who are trained in military affairs, I am not. However, my primary role will be to tend to the apostolate and journey spiritually with the members of the military, as my predecessor Bishop Rotich did. Although Bishop Rotich was trained in military matters and part of their world, my approach will be different. I will join them and rely on guidance from church leaders, including the archbishop and the current administrator. Their support will be crucial as I navigate both my role and the military’s operations,” said the young prelate.
Acknowledging the significance of understanding the operational aspects of the military ordinariate, whose leadership history began with the revered Servant of God Maurice Cardinal Michael Otunga and has since seen stewardship under two distinguished Apostolic Administrators: Msgr Benjamin Kituto Maswili, AJ, and currently Msgr John Njue Njeru. Both are military-trained clergy who brought a unique blend of faith and discipline to their roles. Bishop Wallace emphasized the importance of grasping the operational dynamics of the military, acknowledging the depth of understanding required to effectively shepherd in this specialized context.
“To understand the military environment better, I will seek advice from Monsignor Njue, the current administrator, and Monsignor Maswili, who served previously. Their insights will be invaluable in helping me grasp how the military operates,” said Wallace.
Emphasizing his dedication to service, he remarked, “There is a sense of challenge and uncertainty about whether I will succeed, but my commitment to service remains unwavering. Being called to serve means being ready to move beyond the confines of a specific jurisdiction, whether within the Archdiocese of Nairobi or nationwide. This role may even require service beyond our borders. Regardless of where I am sent, I am prepared to serve wherever there is a need. Where God sends me, I’m ready to go and serve.”
Bishop Wallace Ng’ang’a Gachihi will be installed as the Ordinary of the Military Ordinariate of Kenya on October 12, 2024. His appointment marks a significant step in his episcopal journey, reflecting both his dedication and the trust placed in him by the Church.
51-year-old Bishop Wallace was born on March 26, 1973, in Gatundu, Kiambu County. After attending St. Mary’s Major Seminary in Molo, he studied philosophy at St. Augustine’s Senior Seminary in Mabanga and theology at St. Matthias Mulumba Senior Seminary in Tindinyo.
He was ordained a priest on May 21, 2005, for the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi.
After ordination, he first served as assistant parish priest from 2005 to 2006 and then as parish priest of Sts. Peter and Paul in Kiambu from 2006 to 2009. He pursued a master’s degree in pastoral theology at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) from 2009 to 2011 while also serving as an assistant parish priest at Regina Caeli parish in Karen from 2009 to 2015. Since 2015, he has been the parish priest of Christ the King Parish in Embakasi and, since 2011, the coordinator of archdiocesan pastoral ministry. On February 13, 2024, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Nairobi and was ordained on April 6, 2024.
