Salesius Mugambi (born 1 January 1951) is a Kenyan Catholic prelate who served as the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Meru between the years 2002 and 2025. He was appointed bishop of Meru on 1 December 2001 by Pope John Paul II. On 1 January 2026, having attained the mandatory retirement age for Catholic bishops, he retired from pastoral care of Meru Diocese. He was succeeded the same day by Bishop Jackson Murugara, previously Coadjutor bishop at Meru.
Background and education
He was born on 1 January 1951, at Egandene, Apostolic Prefecture of Meru, in Meru County, Central Kenya. He studied philosophy and Theology before he was ordained into priesthood on 10 December 1977.[1]
Priest
He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Meru on 10 December 1977. He served in that capacity until 1 December 2001.[1]
As bishop
On 1 December 2001, Pope John Paul II appointed him as Coadjutor Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Meru, to deputize Bishop Silas Silvius Njiru. He was consecrated and installed at the Kinoru Stadium, in Meru, Diocese of Meru. The Principal Consecrator was Archbishop Giovanni Tonucci, Titular Archbishop of Torcello assisted by Bishop Silas Silvius Njiru, Bishop of Meru and Archbishop John Njue, Coadjutor Archbishop of Nyeri.[1]
On 18 March 2004, Bishop Silas Silvius Njiru, the Ordinary of the Diocese of Meru retired. Bishop Salesius Mugambi succeeded as bishop there on that day. He continued to serve as the Bishop of Meru, Kenya since then.[1][2][3]
On 1 January 2026, Bishop Mugambi attained the mandatory retirement age for Catholic bishops. Bishop Jackson Murugara, previously the Coadjutor bishop at Meru, succeeded him that same day.[4]
Succession table
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Coadjutor Bishop of Meru (1 December 2001 - 18 March 2004) | Succeeded by |
| Preceded bySilas Silvius Njiru (9 December 1976 - 18 March 2004) | Bishop of Meru (18 March 2004 - 1 January 2026) | Succeeded byJackson Murugara (since 1 January 2026) |
References
- 1.[1.2][1.3][1.4]David M. Cheney (18 January 2025). "MicroData Summary for Bishop Salesius Mugambi (born 1 January 1951), Bishop of Meru". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Kansas City. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- 2.Rose Achiego; Waumini Communications (17 October 2014). "Kenya: Bishop Salesius Mugambi Reaffirms Catholic Church's Position on the Sanctity of Life". Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA). Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- 3.SCCM (2019). "Catholic Diocese of Meru: Small Christian Communities". Small Christian Communities Ministries (SCCM). Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- 4.ACI Africa (3 January 2026). "Coadjutor Bishop of Meru Takes the Helm of the Kenyan Catholic Diocese as Bishop Mugambi Retires at 75". ACI Africa. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 12 January 2026.