John Njenga

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Archbishop John Njenga (born 1928) is a Roman Catholic archbishop.

Born to Peter Kimani and the late Maria Wanjiru at Tigoni, Kiambu, Njenga joined Githiga Primary school, then called Church of Scotland of Mission School, in 1937. After passing the Common Entrance Examination, he went to Lioki Catholic Intermediate Primary School, where he sat the Kenya Primary Examination. He proceeded to Mang’u High School. At Mang’u he met many leaders, including President Mwai Kibaki and Vice-President Moody Awori. He was their senior.

He taught Awori catechism. In 1949, he joined junior seminary at Kilimambogo to study Latin as a bridging course to joining a seminary in Tanzania. After the course in 1951, he went to Kibosho Major Seminary in Tanzania, where he was ordained in 1957. He was posted to the Nairobi Diocese. In 1957, he was sent to England for further studies and got a diploma in Sociology and a doctorate in Canon law.

After returning from studies, he served at the Nairobi Diocese until 1970, when he was ordained Bishop of Eldoret Diocese. He moved from Eldoret to Mombasa in 1989. Kenya Airports Authority current managing director, George Mohoho, was his assistant priest at Makadara Parish before he resigned.

Archbishop Njenga celebrates many achievements in the Church. He takes pride in the expansion of the church and increase in the number of faithful in the Coast region. He established seven parishes — Mwanda, Bomu, Chumvini, St. Paul’s Taveta Mjini, Ukunda, Kiembeni and Mtopanga — in Mombasa, and several others in the North Coast. He also launched the Lwanga Communication, founded St. Mary’s Teachers College, Bura, St. Teresa Secondary School, Chaani, Pastoral Centre, Tudor, and youth polytechnics.

He also initiated a school for the mentally handicapped at Bombolulu and was founder member of the inter-faiths committee for religious leaders in Mombasa. The committee is aimed at promote understanding among the faiths for peaceful co-existence.