Obadiah Kariuki: The shepherd who became a bishop

Bishop Kariuki Obadiah, the first Anglican Bishop of Mt Kenya Diocese

Obadiah Kariuki was born in Kabete around 1902 where his neighbours; the Njonjos, the Leakeys and the Koinanges later influenced his life in unexpected ways.

Chief Koinange’s family gave him a wife, Lilian Wairimu, while the Leakeys paved his way into being one of the first homespun bishops of the Anglican Church in Kenya. See, young Obadiah Kariuki wa Yusufu. The first born and only son of Ng’ang’a and Wanjiru Yusufu served as a part time domestic worker at the Church Missionary Society station in Kabete headed by Canon Harry Leakey, grandpa of Dr Richard Leakey.