Bishop Peter Kihara Kariuki, I.M.C.
Bishop Peter Kihara Kariuki, I.M.C. is the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Marsabit. Born on February 6, 1954, in Thunguri, Kirinyaga County, Kenya, he is a member of the Consolata Missionaries and was ordained a priest on December 16, 1983. He was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Murang’a on June 3, 1999, by Pope John Paul II and consecrated on September 11, 1999. Following the tenure of Bishop Ravasi, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of the Diocese of Marsabit on November 25, 2006, and he was installed on January 25, 2007. Since assuming leadership of the Diocese of Marsabit, Bishop Kihara has focused his pastoral ministry on strengthening evangelization while guiding the diocese toward self reliance and sustainability. His work has emphasized institutional development, local capacity building, education, health, social justice, and economic empowerment initiatives aimed at ensuring the long term resilience of the diocese and the communities it serves. He has been a vocal advocate for peace and reconciliation, especially in times of insecurity and inter community conflict, among his impactful peace initiatives was the establishment of Radio Jangwani a diocesan radio station which has grown to become one of the most trusted and influential radio stations in Kenya’s Northern Frontier He continues to serve the Diocese of Marsabit with deep pastoral dedication and strong missionary zeal.
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Bishop Ambrogio Ravasi, I.M.C. †
Bishop Ambrogio Ravasi, IMC, is the Emeritus Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Marsabit. Born on February 7, 1929, in Bellusco, Italy, he dedicated his life to missionary service within the Consolata Missionaries. He was ordained to the priesthood on February 9, 1957. On June 19, 1981, at the age of 52, Bishop Ravasi was appointed Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Marsabit, becoming the second Consolata Missionary to lead a diocese in Kenya, following Bishop Charles Maria Cavallera. His episcopal ministry was marked by pastoral dedication and commitment to the growth of the Church in northern Kenya, a period marked by expansion, institutional growth, and deeper integration of Church and community life. Bishop Ravasi understood that evangelization must go hand in hand with development. He supported initiatives that addressed drought resilience, education access, and healthcare outreach and served the Diocese of Marsabit until his retirement on November 25, 2006, leaving a lasting legacy of missionary leadership and service to the people of the region.
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Bishop Charles (Carlo) Maria Cavallera, I.M.C. †
Bishop Cavallera was born on January 8, 1909, and was ordained a priest of the Consolata Missionaries in 1931. He served as Vicar Apostolic of Nyeri before being appointed as the first Bishop of Marsabit in 1964. After 17 years of dedicated service, He worked tirelessly to consolidate missionary efforts into a cohesive diocesan identity. Under his guidance, early mission centers such as North Horr and Loiyangalani were strengthened, and pastoral outreach expanded into remote pastoralist regions. Known for his simplicity and missionary spirit, Bishop Kioko traveled extensively across harsh terrain to visit communities. He fostered trust among local tribes, encouraged inculturation of the liturgy, and laid the groundwork for a Church that respected and dialogued with local traditions.
His tenure established the spiritual and administrative backbone of the Diocese. He resigned in 1981 and continued as Bishop Emeritus until his passing on. His work greatly shaped the foundation of the Diocese, contributing to both its spiritual growth and community development.