Pope Francis has named Rev. John Mbinda, a member of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans), as Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar. The appointment was announced in L’Osservatore Romano on April 4, 2022, at 12:00 noon Rome time and 1:00 p.m. Kenyan time.
Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan Archbishop Bert Van Megen confirmed the decision in a letter to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops. The document stated, "I have the honour and pleasure to inform you that Pope Francis has appointed the Reverend Father John Mbinda, C.S.Sp. as the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar."
Bishop-elect Mbinda was born on May 5, 1973, in Kanzalu Parish, Machakos Diocese. He joined the Spiritans in 1993 at the Arusha Missionary Seminary, undergoing a novitiate in 1996 before taking his first vows in 1997. He studied theology at Tangaza University College from 1997 and was ordained a priest in 2002 after serving as a deacon in 2001.
Mbinda’s early ministry included seven years working with the Pokot community in Nakuru Diocese. After earning a master’s in Development Studies in Ireland, he became parish priest in Nairobi from 2009 to 2015. He later served as Provincial Superior of the Spiritans in Kenya and South Sudan until 2021.
From September 2021 to March 2022, Mbinda ministered at St. Chad RC Church in South Norwood, part of the Southwark Archdiocese in the UK. He currently assists at St. Edward Parish in Chiswick, Westminster Archdiocese, since April 1, 2022.
