Bishop Hieronymus Joya Suspends Seven Priests and Announces New Accountability Measures
Rt. Rev. Bishop Hieronymus Joya emphasized his commitment to restoring integrity, accountability, and transparency within the Catholic Diocese of Maralal. Reflecting on his ministry since assuming leadership of the diocese in October 2022, he acknowledged the financial, administrative, and pastoral challenges he encountered and stated that the reforms introduced are intended to strengthen the Church, safeguard its resources, and ensure that clergy faithfully fulfill their pastoral responsibilities.
The Bishop called upon priests, religious, and the faithful to embrace unity, discipline, and responsible stewardship as they work together to build a stronger diocese. He encouraged everyone to remain committed to the Gospel, uphold the values of the Catholic Church, and support ongoing renewal efforts through prayer, honesty, and faithful service, expressing hope that these reforms will promote the spiritual growth and mission of the Diocese of Maralal.
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Below is His Lordship Message
THE BISHOP-CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF MARALAL
P.O Box 350-20600 MARALAL, KENYA.
EMAIL: bishop.joya@maralalcath.org
Maralal: 12th July 2026
Dear brethren, it is today three years and about eight months since I came to the Catholic Diocese of Maralal. I
arrived on 21st October and that evening I took the oath of Fidelity and Administration of the Church resources
in this Cathedral. The next day 22nd October I was ordained at Allamano Youth Centre field. On 23th October
we celebrated the thanksgiving Mass and Mission Sunday in Allamno Youth Hall. After all the celebrations I
embarked on understanding the diocese. It is painful to state that I found the diocese with multiple problems but
no one was willing to tell me the cause of the problems and how to get the solution.
With the gifts of ordination and the gifts I received from the Christians where I went for pastoral visits I started
to survive. I also started to look for donations and grants. Whatever I received I directed to resolve the problems
of the diocese. in December 2022 I organized for a meeting of all the priests working in the diocese. I presented
the problems of the diocese and they agreed on how parishes and Church institutions should make contributions
to help rescue the diocese from financial challenges. It is unfortunate to say some have not cooperated.
As I tried to appeal for collaboration and support, some of the priests and lay Christians started accusing me of
always asking for money, taking schools and parish equipment that belonged to their parish, yet the things were
being run down and mismanaged. I have also been accused of complaining without taking any action on priests
who live a life that contradicts their priestly vocation and own properties that they cannot explain where they
got the money. Such accusations made me work with less support except relying on God’s care, inspiration,
providence, support of generous Christians and people of good will. That helped me to conduct assessment of
the diocese, carry out audits in all parishes, institutions, offices, setup systems and structures, do restructuring,
and pay debts and some loans.
Today I want to give answers to these accusations that some Christians have been using as excuse not to support
the Church. On accusation of being always asking for money I want everyone to know that I have mobilized
hundreds of millions of shillings in the time I have been hear more than all the money all Christians of this
diocese have done for their Church without counting on the major projects that have been done directly in
various parishes and institutions. The question I asked the priests in the meeting last week and I am asking you
today, who should be accused of not supporting the Church and who made the diocese bankcrupt? Who should
be left alone to solve the problems of the diocese?
On the accusation of not taking action against the priests who live contrary to their priestly vocation and who
own properties that they cannot explain where they got the money I have this to say: I never suspect or hold any
priest accountable for any wrong doing without credible information. Since I now have some information and
identified such priests, I announce here two things.
First, the Code of Canon Law, Can. 277.3, gives the diocesan Bishop authority to establish some rules on the
observance of the obligations in particular cases. Therefore, the following should be obligations that the priests
of the Catholic Diocese of Maralal are to observe from today henceforth:
1. The priests are to be in their presbytery/priests house before 7 pm when they are to start evening prayers
together. No priest should sleep outside the priest house and no lay person should sleep or stay in the
fathers house or sisters convent without the permission of the Bishop.
2. No drinking of alcohol in bars or in the parish and institution house or going to any liturgical celebration
a drunk or with the hangover of alcohol.
3. No priest should own business or be involved in any kind of business, except the business of the Church.
4. No priest should own or acquire property in the name of the relatives that he cannot explain how it was
acquired.
5. No priest should cohabit or engage himself in relationship with the person of the opposite sex or same
sex.
6. The diocesan cars and motor bikes in the parish, institution, offices and groups should be driven only by
the person assigned to that particular place or by the authorized driver. The expense for the insurance,
running and maintenance of the car and motor bike should be the responsibility of that parish,
institution, office or group.
7. Finances of the parishes, institutions, offices and groups should be properly administered. The finance
councils/committees should be allowed to play their role and the parish councils and boards should ensure
annual budgets and audits are done.
8. The laws of the Church and the governments should be adhered to by all those in charge and their
accounting officers.
Second, the following priests are suspended from today under the Code of Canon Law, can. 1336, 1-4 and can.
1281.3 until the issues of abuse of ecclesiastical power, negligence of administration and mismanagement of the
temporal goods of the Church are resolved:
1. Rev. Fr. Paul Maina
2. Rev. Fr. Peter Musau
3. Rev. Fr. Stephen Lekasuyan
4. Rev. Fr. Peter Nderitu
5. Rev. Fr. Christopher Letikirich
6. Rev. Fr. John Dida.
7. Rev. Fr. Jonathan Namoni – Suspended on Friday 10th July 2026.
Pray for these priests of ours at this moment they are starting life of deep reflection on the value of their
vocation and the importance of working for the common good of the Church. Remember always to pray for your
Bishop as he endeavours to save the diocese from the difficult challenges it is undergoing.
New Appointments:
1. Rev. Fr. dominic Lesayon – Assistant Parish Priest Maralal Cathedral.
2. Rev. Fr. Albert Letaon – Director St. Joseph Allamano Pastoral Centre and Radio Muchungaji.
3. Rev. Fr. Solomon Ebei – Parish Priest, St. Mathew Lodokejek Parish.
4. Rev. Fr. Ambrose Lepartingat – Parish Priest, Christ the Risen Lord Morijo.
5. Rev. Fr. Marko Lopetet – Assistant Parish Priest, St. Mathew Lodokejek Parish.
May our Mother Mary Consolata and Sts Peter and Paul, pray for us. Amen!
Rt. Rev. Hieronymus Emusugut Joya, IMC
Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Maralal
Phone: +254 720 737 703 +254 734 935 332
Catholic Diocese of Maralal
“Love Conquers Everything”