By Paschal Norbert
MOMBASA, JULY 22, 2025 (CISA) — As he marks nearly 23 years as a bishop and prepares for his eventual retirement, Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde is not slowing down. Instead, he is taking deliberate steps to ensure a smooth and stable transition for the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa, an approach he believes is essential to true ecclesial leadership.
“In the Church, we don’t campaign for our successors,” he said. “We prepare the ground, and the Holy Spirit guides the choice.”
Born on February 10, 1952, in Muthetheni, present-day Machakos County, Archbishop Kivuva has journeyed from a humble upbringing to shepherding one of Kenya’s most prominent archdioceses. A firstborn in a family of nine, he was baptized on March 22, 1952, and began his early education in Kyambusya Primary School before moving with his family to Kichaka Simba in Kwale. His priestly formation took him through St. Mary’s Junior Seminary in Kwale and later to St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Nairobi, where he studied philosophy and theology. He was ordained a priest on December 9, 1978, for the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa.
Archbishop Kivuva served in various pastoral and communications roles, including parish priest in Mwatate, Kongowea, and Makupa, chaplain to the Kenya Armed Forces, and director of Ukweli Video Productions. His appointment as Bishop of of the Catholic Diocese of Machakos came in March 2003, and eleven years later, on December 9, 2014, Pope Francis elevated him to the Metropolitan See of Mombasa, where he was installed as Archbishop on February 21, 2015.
Now aged 73, the Archbishop is keenly aware of the approaching canonical retirement age of 75 for bishops. Speaking to CISA News on the sidelines of the Golden Jubilee celebrations at Consolata Parish Likoni on June 21, 2025, he shared insights into his transition plans and what he hopes to accomplish before stepping down.
“Bishops are expected to retire at the age of 75. I was born in February 1952, so I’m currently 73. I still have about two years before I reach that canonical retirement age,” he said, noting “However, I’m already preparing for that transition. My goal is to ensure a smooth handover, not one that’s rushed or unplanned.”
For Archbishop Kivuva, a thoughtful exit means finishing strong and leaving behind a legacy that serves beyond his tenure. Among his key priorities is the completion of ongoing development and pastoral projects, including the establishment of a clergy home and expanding structures for self-reliance across the archdiocese.
He explains, “My main goal is to complete the projects I’ve already started. I want to leave behind systems and initiatives that will continue running even after I step down. I hope that whoever comes after me will find a working structure and say, ‘This man had foresight.’”
He draws inspiration from Pope Francis and the wider tradition of the Church, which values continuity and long-term thinking over personal ambition.
“I don’t believe in just walking away. Even when Pope Francis passed on, he made a lot of changes, but there must be continuity. That is how the Church operates,” he states.
As he looks to the future, Archbishop Kivuva remains committed to the mission entrusted to him more than four decades ago: to serve, to shepherd, and to build with faith and vision.
