Anthony Muheria is the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri. He is known for making bold statements and for his stern stand on corruption. He grabbed the nation’s attention during the State funeral of the former late president Mwai Kibaki.
Allan Makana, a man claiming to be Kibaki’s grandson, was about to disrupt the ceremony by walking to the podium and trying to address the gathering. The Archbishop expertly handled the situation by embracing him and then calmly moving him away from the podium while giving security personnel ample time to take charge.
His actions would attract the attention of Kenyans on social media who would go on to praise the way he handled the situation.
The Archbishop was held in high esteem by Kibaki and it did not come as a surprise when he was given the honour of performing the final rites of Kenya’s third president.
Here is his story as told by WoK.
Background and Education
Archbishop Anthony Muheria was born on the 27th of May 1963 in Kiburugi parish in Murang’a county. He is the third born in a family of eight children. His brother Patrick Njoroge-who is the second born in the family-is the current Central Bank of Kenya governor.
Also Read: Patrick Ngugi Njoroge Biography, Age, Education, Career and Marital Status
The Archbishop attended Mang’u High School for his O-level and then proceeded to Strathmore College for the A levels.
After high school, the man of the cloth pursued a degree in engineering at the University of Nairobi, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil engineering in 1984.
Career and becoming a priest
| Date | Age | Event | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 May 1963 | 58.92 | Born | |
| 13 Jun 1993 | 30.0 | Ordained Priest | Priest of Opus Dei |
| 30 Oct 2003 | 40.4 | Appointed | Bishop of Embu, Kenya |
| 10 Jan 2004 | 40.6 | Ordained Bishop | Bishop of Embu, Kenya |
| 28 Jun 2008 | 45.0 | Appointed | Bishop of Kitui, Kenya |
| 28 Jun 2008 | 45.0 | Appointed | Apostolic Administrator of Embu, Kenya |
| 25 Jul 2009 | 46.1 | Ceased | Apostolic Administrator of Embu, Kenya |
| 21 Feb 2015 | 51.7 | Appointed | Apostolic Administrator of Machakos, Kenya |
| 23 Apr 2017 | 53.9 | Appointed | Archbishop of Nyeri, Kenya |
| 23 Apr 2017 | 53.9 | Appointed | Apostolic Administrator of Kitui, Kenya |
| 17 Jun 2017 | 54.0 | Installed | Archbishop of Nyeri, Kenya |
| 25 Aug 2018 | 55.2 | Ceased | Apostolic Administrator of Machakos, Kenya |
| 29 Aug 2020 | 57.2 | Ceased | Apostolic Administrator of Kitui, Kenya |
He would go on to secure a job as an engineer where he worked for five years, from 1984 to 1989 before calling it quits in order to respond to the call of God over his life. He would then attend the Pontifical University of The Holy Cross in Rome where he graduated with a Theology degree in 1993.
“I worked from 1984 up to mid 1989 when I answered my second call that is a story that the papers carried during my ordination. I think it is also good to focus on a person’s calling and this has nothing to do with an individual’s qualifications in terms of degrees,” he told the Standard in a previous interview.
The story was so intriguing that a number of dailies spread the news during his ordination on 13th June 1993.
Also Read: Archbishop Philip Anyolo Biography, Age, Education, Career & Car Gift From Ruto
The engineer cum bishop served as an Opus Dei priest until 30th October 2003. He was then consecrated on 10th January 2004 by Giovanni Tonucci.
“I think it is also good to focus on a person’s calling and this has nothing to do with an individual’s qualifications in terms of degrees,” he told The Standard in a previous interview.
On 28th June 2008, he was appointed bishop of Kitui Diocese and apostolic administrator over Embu Diocese. His duties in the latter role stopped on 25th August 2018.
In 2011, Archbishop Anthony Muheria resigned as a member of the Judicial Service Commission. He said it was a matter of principle. The job required time, energy and mind which he could not give due to his role as bishop.
He was appointed Archbishop of Nyeri Archdiocese in 2017 and also became apostolic administrator of Kitui Diocese until 29th August 2020.
Apart from being a bishop, he is a member of Opus Dei, a Catholic church organization
