In Kenya, Roman Catholic bishops and priests are strictly prohibited from marrying. Celibacy is a mandatory requirement for their ordination and ministry.
Some priests, however, have left to join independent or other churches that allow them to marry. As a result, their marriages are not recognized by the Roman Catholic Church.
One such example of a Catholic bishop comes from the Kikuyu community. He is among the pioneering bishops to go against these norms and has been a reference for decades, with his decision to marry influencing how others approached similar choices in the future.
The First Kikuyu Catholic bishop to marry
Those in the Catholic Church in Kenya are quite familiar with Peter Macharia Kinyanjui, who is recognized as the first Kikuyu Catholic bishop.
Peter was born in 1921 in Limuru, Kenya. His parents were Anglicans, but he was a Catholic, attending Holy Family Thigio Church in Limuru, near his home.
While young, he felt a calling to the priesthood and joined St. Augustine’s Minor Seminary in Nyeri.
In his ministry, Peter Macharia went on to develop the Catholic Church in the Mt. Kenya region. He established numerous schools and congregations, helping the Catholic Church and education among the Kikuyu community to grow significantly.
However, he became widely known for challenging Catholic doctrine.
Thereafter, Peter left Catholic Church, returned to his parents’ Anglican Church, and got married, becoming the first Kikuyu Catholic bishop to do so. This turned out to be a very controversial decision, given his prior role in the Catholic Church.
Peter Kinyanjui died on February 20, 2003, at the age of 82. He was laid to rest in Kiambu, where he had built his first church.
To date, he is remembered for his strong pastoral work and his contributions to church growth in the region. In addition to his legacy, he remains a role model to many, especially those in the education sector, as he prioritized it alongside religion.
