“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

This verse from the scriptures is inscribed on a wood carving in Venerable Canon Patrick Kyalo Munuve’s office. Kyalo Munuve is the new Machakos ACK Diocese Bishop-elect.

The verse that emphasises the importance of finding joy in God, regardless of circumstances, and perhaps best depicts Munuve’s journey from the dusty, sunny and remote Makueni village to be bishop.

When Munuve dropped out of secondary school after just one and half terms due to lack of fees, he was distraught and uncertain of his future.

Born on August 20, 1968 at Kyuu Mbooni in Makueni in the then larger Machakos District, Munuve, a fourth born in the family of five, attended Kyuu Primary between 1976 and 1983 when he sat his Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) examinations. He joined Kyuu Secondary but says due to poverty and lack of fees he dropped out of school to work as a houseboy for his cousin.

“Due to poverty, I went to work for my cousin as a houseboy for about two years,” Munuve who was on April 12 elected as the fourth Bishop of Machakos ACK Diocese told the People Daily during an interview at St Mary’s Parish, Syokimau on Saturday. In 1986, Munuve resolved to return to school and joined Kalama Secondary in Form Three, where he did secondary exams in 1987.

Pulpit calling

In December 1987, Munuve was taken by the Anglican Church, Machakos Diocese for a youth leaders training sponsored by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK). He was posted to St John’s Kiusyani and started work as a parish evangelist in 1988.

In 1991, Munuve was promoted to serve at Wanzauni Parish before being made a diocesan evangelist in 1992 and posted to Kyakatoni Parish as an evangelist.

A letter from the former vocal Machakos Church of Province of Kenya Bishop Benjamin Nzimbi to the Vicar, Mbooni Parish on June 11,1991 had the effect of elevating his status.

“For the sake of faster growth of the Wanzauni Churches, Wanzauni is going to be a parish with effect from 1st July, 1991, under Evangelist Patrick Munuve.”

In another letter on September 4, 1992 posting Munuve to Kyakatoni Parish, Nzimbi said his salary would be Sh990 and duty allowance (Sh200).

“The other deductions will be as usual,” Nzimbi said.

In 1994, Munuve was admitted to Berea Theological College, which was affiliated to St Paul’s Theological College and completed his Diploma in Theology in 1997 before being posted to Matuu Parish as an evangelist and in March 1998 made a deacon and priested on December 20 of the same year. He was later appointed Vicar of Matuu parish where he served until it was sub-divided but he remained in the new Kithimani parish.

In 2002, Munuve rose to be Rural Dean at Kithimani before being transferred to St Paul’s Mwala Parish in 2012 and later St Mary’s Ngonda in Kangundo.

In 2013, Munuve was named Administrative Secretary of Machakos Diocese and served for seven years.

In 2020, Munuve landed at St Mary’s Syokimau where he was appointed Vicar-General of the Diocese and worked until April 12 when he was voted in as fourth bishop of the See that borders Nairobi. Munuve beat three other competitors to be elected bishop of the diocese that covers Syokimau, Athi-River, Utawala, Kangundo, and Machakos County as a whole.

Munuve, who now holds a Bachelor in Divinity from St Paul’s University, a Diploma in Social Leadership and Development from South East Asia Rural Social Leadership Institute, Xavier University Cangayan De Oral City Phillipines and a Diploma in Theology from St Paul’s United Theological College, has also done professional courses including on resource mobilisation from St Luke’s Peer Mentoring sponsored by Trinity Wallstreet UK in Ghana and Uganda consecutively.

Schooled for service

He pursued Leadership and Administration from African Institute for Contemporary Mission and Research in Butere, Organisational Renewal and Strategic Planning from Coral Africa, Management and Leadership (Coral Africa), Pastoral and Psychological (Kenya Institute of Professional Counselling) and Advanced Leadership Training (Haggai Institute).

He was honoured Canon of Church in honour of St Barnabas in 2019.

A darling of Machakos Diocese faithful, Munuve has spearheaded various development projects and has been a key supporter of Master Seed initiative, which raises money for development, contributing Sh50,000 annually for the last eight years.

Asked by People Daily if he had ever hoped he would be a bishop, Munuve says he desired to serve God as a priest but through motivation and encouragement from Christians and the clergy.

“I offered myself to the position of Machakos Holy Honour of Bishops in Machakos Diocese.”

During his free time, Munuve likes reading the Bible and literature books to increase his knowledge. He is married to Jemima and a father of four.

“I also have one daughter in love, one son in love and four grand-children,” Munuve adds.

The bishop who was first posted to a big church but assigned to a small one with about 30 members leaves for the Diocese role after serving the magnificent St Mary’s Parish, which has close to 2,000 members, up from 1,300 in 2019 when he was posted there. He attributes growth of the church to transparency, accountability and good stewardships

Munuve, who will be consecrated as Bishop on May 18, says his key agenda would be to strengthen the congregation and the church.

He hopes to make the Diocese self-sustaining and self-supporting through mission and evangelism, ‘plant’ more churches where there’s no ACK and increase income-generating activities.

“I will further focus on discipleship and mentoring programmes to all Christians to build strong churches. I want to be a bishop for all, available and listening to all,” Munuve adds insisting that he would also check on the welfare of clergy in all aspects of life so that they could be strengthened and motivated for the ministry and calling.”

Munuve, whose faithful describe as gifted in resource mobilisation and investments, has made Machakos a role model for other Sees, and links his success to the three former Machakos bishops including Nzimbi.

Faithful who spoke to People Daily hailed Munuve’s ascendancy to be bishop and his new role. They describe him as a man of courage especially on issues of climate justice, care for the poor, and the dignity of every human being.

To ensure the youth attend church and are involved in church activities, Munuve who had started games, recreational activities and conferences for the group says the diocese will also further invest in technology.

“We have already started football club, bible clubs for studies targeting young people. The youth are also involved in activities like hiking,” Munuve, who is a board member of several schools, Matuu Hospital and chairs a number of other boards, says.

Governor Wavinya Ndeti recently hosted the Archbishop Commissary of the ACK Machakos Diocese, Rt. Rev. Canon Charles Muturi, who officially introduced her to Munuve, ahead of his consecration.