Jackson Murugara


Jackson Murugara I.M.C., is a Kenyan Roman Catholic prelate who is the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Meru, Kenya. He is a member of the Order of the Consolata Missionaries. He was appointed bishop on 16 January 2025 by Pope Francis. He was consecrated and installed at Meru, Diocese of Meru on 19 March 2025. He succeeded as local ordinary at Meru on 1 January 2026, following the age-related retirement of Bishop Salesius Mugambi.

Early life and education

He was born on 7 April 1970 at Kamanyaki, Tharaka-Nithi County, in the Diocese of Meru, in Kenya. He attended the Muthitwa Primary School, from 1981 until 1988. He then transferred to Mitiri Boys' School, before he entered St. Pius X Minor Seminary Nkubu in Nkubu, Meru County, where he studied from 1990 until 1992. He holds a degree in Philosophy and Religious Studies, awarded by the Consolata Institute of Philosophy, in Nairobi. He also graduated with another degree from the Pontifical Urban University. From 1997 until 2001, he studied Theology at the Missionary Institute of London, affiliated with Middlesex University.

Priest

He took his perpetual vows as a member of the Consolata Missionaries on 18 November 2000. He was ordained priest of the Consolata Missionaries on 15 August 2001. He served in that capacity until 16 January 2025.
Following his ordination, he served in various roles including as:
  • Collaborator in Kagaene Parish, Meru Diocese from 2001 until 2002
  • Collaborator in Mujwa Parish, Meru Diocese from 2001 until 2002
  • Parish Vicar in Chiga Parish, Catholic Archdiocese of Kisumu from 2002 until 2003
  • Formator of postulants at the Consolata Seminary in Nairobi from 2003 until 2009.
  • Director of the Bethany House and Charity Home pastoral centres in the Diocese of Muranga from 2011 until 2018.
  • Parish priest and Rector of the Consolata Shrine in Westlands, Archdiocese of Nairobi, Kenya from 2018 until 2025.

    Bishop

On 16 January 2025 Pope Francis appointed him Coadjutor Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Meru, to work with and later succeed Bishop Salesius Mugambi, the current Ordinary of Meru Catholic Diocese. His consecration and installation were scheduled for 19 March 2025 at Meru.
He was consecrated and installed at Kinoru Stadium, Meru, Diocese of Meru on 19 March 2025. The Principal Consecrator was Archbishop Hubertus Matheus Maria van Megen, Titular Archbishop of Novaliciana assisted by Archbishop Philip Arnold Subira Anyolo, Archbishop of Nairobi and Bishop Salesius Mugambi, Bishop of Meru.
On 1 January 2026, Bishop Salesius Mugambi retired, having attained the mandatory retirement age for Catholic Bishops. That same day, Bishop Jackson Murugara, previously Coadjutor bishop, succeeded as local ordinary at Meru.

Succession table