Bishop
Bishop
Rt. Rev. John Oballa Owaa was born on 28th August 1958 at Kadibo Division, Kisumu District. He is the son of Jacob Owaa and Tabitha Owaa. He is the fourth born in his immediate family of seven.
He attended Withur and Nduru primary schools, and did his C.P.E in 1973. He later joined St. Peters Junior Seminary Mukumu for his O level and then Tindinyo College for A level.
He studied Philosophy and Theology at St. Augustine’s Mabanga and St. Thomas Aquinas respectively. He was ordained a Priest on 28th August 1986, for the Archdiocese of Kisumu.
Rt. Rev. John Oballa worked in various Parishes in Kisumu Archdiocese after his ordination, like St. Theresa Cathedral, Kibuye, Barkorwa Parish before heading to Rome for studies. He was in Rome for six years where he studied and obtained a Licentiate and PhD in Canon Law at the Pontifical Urban University. In Rome he also worked as an official of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care, from 1995 to 1997.
He came back to Kenya in 1997. From 1999 to 2001 he served as the Secretary and Director of Finance of the Archdiocese of Kisumu. In 2004 he was appointed Vicar General Vicar of the Archdiocese of Kisumu. In January 2010 he was appointed as Acting Rector of St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, a position he held until Pope Benedict XVI appointment him as the third Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ngong on 7th January 2012. He was consecrated as Bishop on 14th April 2012.
Bishop John Oballa is the current Vice Chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops.