The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Garissa, George Muthaka, has joined the Catholic faithful in celebrating the retirement of Fr Macharia, a longtime chaplain of the Kenya Prisons Service, after years of pastoral ministry to prison officers, inmates and their families.
Muthaka concelebrated a thanksgiving Mass led by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Embu, marking the priest’s retirement and recognising his decades of service to both the Church and the Kenya Prisons Service.
During the celebration, Fr Macharia was praised for his commitment to preaching the Gospel, administering the sacraments and providing spiritual guidance within correctional facilities. His ministry was credited with promoting hope, reconciliation and compassion among prison officers, inmates and their families.
The Commissioner General of Prisons, Patrick M. Aranduh, paid tribute to the retiring priest, describing him as a dedicated spiritual leader who fostered harmony and mutual respect among people of different faiths while strengthening pastoral care within the Kenya Prisons Service.
Bishop Muthaka joined other church leaders in wishing Fr Macharia good health and God’s blessings in retirement. He thanked him for a lifetime of faithful ministry and dedicated service to some of society’s most vulnerable people.
The Catholic Diocese of Garissa serves one of Kenya’s smallest Christian populations, covering the predominantly Muslim counties of Garissa, Wajir and Mandera.
Established in 1988 by Pope John Paul II, the diocese ministers to a dispersed Catholic community comprising civil servants, security personnel, teachers, healthcare workers, businesspeople and migrants from other parts of Kenya, alongside a small number of local faithful.
Operating in a region where Islam is the dominant faith, the diocese has long promoted interfaith dialogue, peaceful coexistence and humanitarian outreach. It works closely with Muslim leaders and local communities to advance peace, education, healthcare and social development while providing pastoral care to the Christian minority across Kenya’s North Eastern region.
