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Peter Joseph Kairo (born 24 May 1941) is a Kenyan prelate of the Catholic Church who is he Archbishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri since his retirement in 2017. He has been a bishop since 1983, serving as ordinary in Muranga Diocese from 1983 to 1997, Nakuru Diocese from 1997 to 2008, and Archbishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nyeri from 2008 to 2017.

Background and education

He was born on 24 May 1941 at Londoners, Nakuru, in Nakuru County in the Diocese of Nakuru. He isthe first born in a family of nine siblings, four sons and five daughters. He studied at St. Peter's Primary School Elburgon. He then transferred to the Mother of Apostles Minor Seminary, at Moi's Bridge. He studied Philosophy and Theology in St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Nairobi. He graduated from St. John Fisher University (at that time "St. John Fisher College") in Rochester, New York State, in the United States with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies.

Priest

On 1 November 1970 Bishop Raphael Simon Ndingi Mwana'a Nzeki, Bishop of Machakos ordained him priest of Nakuru at Nakuru.

While priest of Nakuru, he served in several roles including as:

• Priest at Holy Rosary Parish, Nakuru Diocese
• Diocesan Education Secretary, Nakuru Diocese
• Lay Apostolate Coordinator and Vocations Director
• Spiritual Director, St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, in Nairobi from 1976 until 1981
• Administrator of Christ the King Cathedral in Nakuru from January 1982 until March 1983
• Vicar General of the Diocese of Nakuru from January 1982 until March 1983.

Bishop

On 17 March 1983, Pope John Paul II appointed Father Peter Joseph Kairo as the founder bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Muranga, which was peeled off from the Archdiocese of Nyeri on the same day. He was ordained and installed as Bishop of Murangá on 21 May 1983 by Bishop Raphael Simon Ndingi Mwana'a Nzeki, Bishop of Nakuru assisted by Bishop Caesar Gatimu, Bishop of Nyeri and Bishop Silas Silvius Njiru, Bishop of Meru.

On 21 April 1997, Pope John Paul II appointed him the Bishop of the Diocese of Nakuru. He took possession of the diocese in August 1997. He served in Nakuru for 11 years. On 19 April 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Archbishop of Nyeri. He was installed Archbishop of Nyeri at Ruring'u Stadium in Nyeri, on 14 June 2008.

After over 8 years of service as the Archbishop of Nyeri, his application for retirement based on his age was accepted by Pope Francis, effective 23 April 2017. He was succeeded by Bishop Anthony Muheria, formerly the Bishop of Kitui, who was appointed the new Archbishop of Nyeri, that same day. Archbishop Peter Joseph Kairo stayed on Archbishop Emeritus of Nyeri, Kenya.

See also

• Catholic Church in Kenya

References

1. ^ David M. Cheney (25 February 2024). "MicroData Summary for Archbishop Peter Joseph Kairo (born 24 May 1941), Archbishop Emeritus of Nyeri". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Kansas City, Kansas, United States. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
2. ^ Casmir Odundo (7 November 2020). "50 Years As A Priest: Archbishop Emeritus Reflects". Young Catholic Priest. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
3. ^ Mwangi Muiruri (17 June 2017). "High-profile bishop Kairu retires at 75". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi, Kenya.
4. Boniface Mwangi (18 September 2016). "Archbishop Kairo calls it a day". Daily Nation. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
5. John Kibet (5 December 2020). "Kairo: The little child who shone a light to humanity". Daily Nation. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 30 December 2024.

Succession table

External links

• History of the Archdiocese of Nyeri

• 1941 births
• Living people
• 21st-century Roman Catholic archbishops in Kenya
• 20th-century Roman Catholic archbishops in Kenya
• People from Nakuru County
• Roman Catholic bishops of Muranga
• Roman Catholic bishops of Nakuru
• Roman Catholic archbishops of Nyeri
• Kenyan Roman Catholic bishops
• St. John Fisher University alumni
• Kikuyu people