Garissa (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

George Muthaka, O.F.M. Cap., Bishop
Joseph Alessandro, O.F.M. Cap., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 3 February 1984
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Mombasa
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Kenya
Square Kilometers: 142,702 (55,118 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://garissacatholic.org
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7, 70100 Garissa, Kenya
Telephone: 721.640.396

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Garissa
- Latin Name: Garissaensis
- Erected: 9 December 1976
- Country: Kenya

Past and Present Ordinaries

Leo Joseph White † (9 Dec 1976 Appointed - 1984 Resigned)
Paul Darmanin, O.F.M. Cap. † (3 Feb 1984 Appointed - 8 Dec 2015 Retired)
Joseph Alessandro, O.F.M. Cap. (8 Dec 2015 Succeeded - 17 Feb 2022 Retired)
George Muthaka, O.F.M. Cap. (17 Feb 2022 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Garissa
9 December 1976	Erected	Diocese of Mombasa (Tana River and Lamu) Diocese of Meru (North Eastern Province)	Prefecture Apostolic of Garissa (erected)
Diocese of Garissa
3 February 1984	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Garissa	Diocese of Garissa
21 May 1990	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Garissa (from Nairobi)
2 June 2000	Territory Lost	Diocese of Garissa (Lamu and Lower Tana River) Archdiocese of Mombasa (Malindi)	Diocese of Malindi (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Prefecture Apostolic of Garissa

1980 7,500 360,000 2.1% 1 16 17 441 1 18 11 7 ap1981

Diocese of Garissa

1990 17,600 534,000 3.3% 1 13 14 1,257 16 23 10 ap1991

1999 24,000 600,000 4.0% 3 21 24 1,000 29 22 11 ap2000

2000 9,000 961,000 .9% 2 9 11 818 17 11 6 ap2001

2001 7,000 700,000 1.0% 8 8 875 13 15 5 ap2002

2002 7,000 700,000 1.0% 2 9 11 636 12 15 5 ap2003

2003 7,000 700,000 1.0% 2 10 12 583 13 15 5 ap2004

2004 7,000 700,000 1.0% 2 8 10 700 10 15 5 ap2005

2006 6,690 729,000 .9% 5 9 14 477 11 13 6 ap2007

2013 9,000 886,000 1.0% 7 10 17 529 12 17 6 ap2014

2016 9,000 948,000 .9% 8 6 14 642 6 14 6 ap2017

2019 6,911 1,028,545 .7% 8 9 17 406 9 15 7 ap2020

2021 8,057 1,082,630 .7% 9 6 15 537 6 19 7 ap2022

2023 7,451 1,139,660 .7% 4 6 10 745 7 22 7 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Prefecture Apostolic of Garissa
1980	7,500	360,000	2.1%	1	16	17	441	1	18	11	7	ap1981
Diocese of Garissa
1990	17,600	534,000	3.3%	1	13	14	1,257		16	23	10	ap1991
1999	24,000	600,000	4.0%	3	21	24	1,000		29	22	11	ap2000
2000	9,000	961,000	.9%	2	9	11	818		17	11	6	ap2001
2001	7,000	700,000	1.0%		8	8	875		13	15	5	ap2002
2002	7,000	700,000	1.0%	2	9	11	636		12	15	5	ap2003
2003	7,000	700,000	1.0%	2	10	12	583		13	15	5	ap2004
2004	7,000	700,000	1.0%	2	8	10	700		10	15	5	ap2005
2006	6,690	729,000	.9%	5	9	14	477		11	13	6	ap2007
2013	9,000	886,000	1.0%	7	10	17	529		12	17	6	ap2014
2016	9,000	948,000	.9%	8	6	14	642		6	14	6	ap2017
2019	6,911	1,028,545	.7%	8	9	17	406		9	15	7	ap2020
2021	8,057	1,082,630	.7%	9	6	15	537		6	19	7	ap2022
2023	7,451	1,139,660	.7%	4	6	10	745		7	22	7	ap2024

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Joseph Alessandro, O.F.M. Cap. (Coadjutor Bishop: 29 Jun 2012; Bishop: 8 Dec 2015 to 17 Feb 2022)
George Muthaka, O.F.M. Cap. (Bishop: 17 Feb 2022 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Paul Darmanin, O.F.M. Cap. † (Bishop: 3 Feb 1984 to 8 Dec 2015)
Leo Joseph White † (Prefect: 9 Dec 1976 to 1984)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Garissa
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 69, Page 137, and Page 138
Diocese of Garissa
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 76, Page 435, and Page 436
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 82, Page 1,370, and Page 1,371

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Diocese of Garissa

Dioecesis Garissaensis