On the 9th December 2014, Bishop Martin KivuvaMusonde was appointed the new archbishop of the catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa replacing the late Archbishop BornifaceLele who has gone to be with the Lord.Archbishop Martin was born on 10th February 1952, in Muthetheni, Machakos County, and baptized on 22nd March 1952. He is a first born in a family of six brothers and three sisters. In 1961, his family moved to kichaka samba in the coastal region.He went to KyambusyaPrimary School in Muthetheni.After they moved to Kichaka samba he joined class 2in KichakaSimba Primary school. He went to St. Mary’s Seminary Kwale. He studied philosophy and theology at St. Thomas Aquinas seminary in Nairobi and was ordained priest on 9th December,1978 in the Archdiocese of Mombasa, which coincidentally is the date he was announced the Archbishop of the same Archdiocese.
Pastoral experience
As apriest in the Archdiocese of Mombasa he served in different parishes in different capacities.His first appointment was in Mwatate Parish in TaitaTaveta as an assistant Priest, from February 1979-February 1989, he served as a parish Priest of Our Lady of Fatima Parish Kongowea and at the same time as an officiating Chaplain to Kenya Armed Forces,(Nyali Barracks). In the years 1989-1992, he worked as a parish priest of Makupa Parish.
His Career In Communication
From 1989-1992, he worked as a social communications coordinator for the Archdiocese of Mombasa. In 1992, he was appointed to work in Ukweli Video Productions in Nairobi where he later became the Director a position he held until his appointment as the Bishop of Machakos.
Archbishop Martin Kivuva holds certificates in building and constructions from Mombasa Polytechnic, Religious studies from the University of Nairobi,Aid administration from Selly oak College, Bermingham, England,Radio Production from all Africa conference of churches-Nairobi,plus a Video and Radio Production from the Institute of Telecommunications Dallas,USA.
INSTALLATION
He was elected Bishop on 15th March,2003 and ordained and installed as the Bishop of Machakos on the 3rd June, 2003 at Machakos Stadium in a ceremony attended by he then Apostolic Nuncio- AllainLebeaupin, Bishops, Priests and religious men and women from within and outside the Diocese of Machakos and even the then President MwaiKibaki and other prominent Politicians
His Work in Machakos
On his election,he adopted a motto “that all may be one” (John 17:21), with the intention of uniting the entire Diocese into one.In his apostolic work in the Diocese he has displayed the fatherly image in that he knew the Diocese from one corner to the last end and was more alert with the contemporary issues in the Diocese and in the country. He was a visionary leader in his style of leadership, a virtue seen in the many projects he has undertaken in the Diocese including the drafting of a strategic plan for the diocese. Archbishop Martin was simple, open to dialogue and involved the Clergy, Religious Men and Women and Lay leaders in running the affairs of the Diocese.