Deputy President Kithure Kindiki was unable to attend the installation of Fr. Jackson Murugara as the Coadjutor Bishop of Meru on Wednesday.
In a message read to the congregation by Nyeri Archbishop Anthony Muheria, Kindiki expressed his regrets, citing “bad weather” as the reason for his absence.
Muheria conveyed Kindiki’s goodwill message to the new Meru bishop and assured him of the Deputy President’s support.
“Today, we were expecting our Deputy President, Kithure Kindiki, who unfortunately was unable to be with us and has sent his regrets,” Archbishop Muheria said.
“He has expressed his desire to be here, but the weather was very bad, preventing him from leaving Nairobi in time.”
Nairobi experienced heavy rains on Wednesday morning.
On February 18, Kindiki met a section of Catholic leaders from Meru County at his Karen residence, where they briefed him on preparations for the ceremony.
Top political leaders from Meru County, including newly sworn-in Governor Isaac Mutuma, former Governors Kiraitu Murungi and Peter Munya, and former Senator and ex-Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi, were in attendance.
Nearly all MPs from the county also attended the historic event, days after witnessing Mutuma’s inauguration.
This marks the first major public event attended by Governor Mutuma, who succeeded impeached Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
Before his appointment, the Coadjutor Bishop of Meru, Murugara, served at the Consolata Shrine in Westlands, Nairobi.
The Catholic Church announced that his appointment was officially published in L’Osservatore Romano in Rome on January 16, 2025.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, Archbishop Bert Van Megen, conveyed the appointment to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) through an official communication.
“His appointment as Bishop is a testament to his years of service, commitment to his faith, and dedication to uplifting the lives of others,” KCCB said in a statement then.
