Bishop Julius Wanyoike was born in 1967 and trained for ministry at Bishop Kariuki College from 1991 to 1993. He was ordained in 1993. After serving in Old Ngong parish of the diocese of Mt. Kenya South. He further studied at Tangaza College for Bachelors in religious studies. In 1998 he was posted as Vicar of Makongeni parish in the newly created Thika Diocese. Julius was appointed the Diocesan Youth Organizer, acting Diocesan Secretary and personal assistant to Bishop Gideon Githiga the first Bishop of Thika diocese.

Julius took a break from active ministry in Kenya to pursue post-graduate studies in the United Kingdom. He undertook two Masters Degrees; in Mission Studies (2005) and Applied Theological Studies (2007) from the University of Wales and Birmingham respectively. During the time of his studies he served as an Associate Minister in the Diocese of Birmingham, at St. John’s Harborne, St. Michael’s Boldmere, and St. Chad’s Local Ecumenical Partnership Parish.

Bishop Wanyoike took a break from his doctoral studies in 2008 to take up the position of the Provost of the All Saints Cathedral in the All Saints Cathedral Diocese succeeding Canon Peter Karanja who went on to become the Secretary General of the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK). Here Julius ministered to a very large and complex congregation at the National Cathedral, where he was also appointed an Archdeacon.

He oversaw the completion and the dedication of the Multi-Purpose Hall (MPH-Trinity Center) for use by the Church for its Sunday youth services and its weekly commercial activities. The MPH was built through a campaign within the church that raised the funds over a long period of time.

While serving his second 5-year contract at the Cathedral, Rev. Julius Wanyoike was elected as the second Bishop of Thika Diocese, on 27th July, 2013, succeeding Rt. Rev. Dr. Gideon Githiga. Bishop Wanyoike was also elected as the Chairman of NCCK’s Nairobi Region covering Nairobi, Kiambu, Wajir, Garissa and Mandera counties.

Bishop Wanyoike is the chair of the ACK Diocese of Thika Talent’s SACCO which was commissioned by the President, His Excellency Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, during his visit to the Diocese on 10th April, 2016. The Sacco has a share capital of over Ksh 500 Million and a membership of more than 8,000 from the Diocese. He is the chair of UZIMA Press, a leading publishing firm of the Anglican Church of Kenya. Bishop Wanyoike is the chair of Anglican Development Services (ADS), Mt. Kenya Region. He is also the Secretary to the House of Bishops in our Province.

Bishop Wanyoike introduced Church and Community Mobilization Project (CCMP), a project that has holistically transformed the lives of Christians spiritually, economically and socially. This has improved the spirituality of Christians within Thika Diocese, empowered them economically and enabled them to be more committed to church activities through taking up leadership roles, evangelism especially during the Mission month (August) which has seen growth of our congregations. ACK Diocese of Thika has grown from 26 to 98 clergy, the church membership from about 9,000 to 33, 456, the parishes from 22 to 72, and churches from 115 to 181.

Christians giving for God’s work and Diocesan investments has also tremendously grown. This year’s giving of annual Diocesan funds drive was Ksh. 33 million on April 10, when we hosted the President at our Diocesan Cathedral. Under the leadership of Bishop Wanyoike, the ACK Diocese of Thika has sent a missionary to the Diocese of Sunyani in Ghana. He has also steered the formation of partnerships with 4 Churches in USA which were absorbed as member parishes of ACK Thika Diocese during this year’s Synod Session.

The diocese has also under the leadership of Bishop Wanyoike seen the development of Mt. Kenya Trust Limited in Nairobi along Ngong’ Road, a joint venture with the Dioceses of Mt. Kenya South, Mt. Kenya Central, Mt. Kenya West, and Murang’a South,whose investments are for commercial interests in Bishop Magua House and Kayahwe Apartments.

The achievements of the CCMP programme are so magnificent and probably this is what prompted Bishop Wanyoike to resume his studies on the programme. He is currently pursuing PhD in Development Studies at St. Paul’s University, Limuru.

Bishop Wanyoike’s experience as the personal assistant to the first Bishop of Thika, his international experience as a post-graduate student and minister, his work as the Provost of All Saints Cathedral one of the busiest churches in Kenya and currently as Bishop of Thika Diocese has given him immersion experience in strategic leadership, innovation and working closely with a diverse profile of people and cultures that could be valuable if elected as the sixth Archbishop of Kenya.

The ACK’s dwindling youth profile and the growing youth demographics in the country would be his biggest challenge and greatest opportunity. In an interview with Thika Town Today publication Bishop Wanyoike said that; “the church has a critical role in the ecumenical family and its voice must heard in the midst of people’s lives. It has its role too on how both the national and county governments are run. The internal mechanism of the church should always be felt outward for the gospel to have meaning to the congregation.”

Bishop Wanyoike is married to Esther and they have 3 children