The Kenya Conference of the Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has announced a change of guard in it’s leadership.

The body has announced Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba of the kisumu Metropolitan as the new chairman.

Archbishop Makumba takes over from His Grace Martin Kivuva Musonde of the Archdiocese of Mombasa who has completed his term.

Before his latest appointment, Makumba was the vice-chairman and principal administrator of KCCB.

Born in Lirhanda village in Kakamega County in 1968, Makumba became the youngest Catholic bishop in Kenya at the age of 41.

After completing secondary school at St Charles Lwanga, he joined St Mary’s Major Seminary. He then went to Rome, Italy, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree at Urbaniana Pontifican University, as well as a Master’s Degree in philosophy at Pontifical Holy Cross University.

He was ordained priest on October 15, 1994.

He will be assisted by Archbishop Anthony Muheria of Nyeri Metropolitan.

What’s the duty of KCCB Chairman?

The Chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops is elected by the Plenary Assembly. He presides over all the Ordinary and Extra-ordinary Plenary Assemblies and also the Permanent Council of Bishops.

He is the official spokesman of the Conference, and he represents the Conference in all local and international forums either personally or by delegation.

He is responsible for the continuity of the Conference’s activities, for the supervision of the work of the General Secretariat with the assistance of the Vice chairman-KCCB and for reports on the Permanent Council’s activities to the Plenary.