Father Maurice Makumba Muhatia of Kakamega Diocese has been appointed the new Bishop of Nakuru.

Fr. Muhatia's appointment was communicated to the Apostolic Nunciature of Kenya from Pope Benedict the 16th Saturday afternoon.

Nakuru diocese has been without a Bishop for two months after father Kairu who previously served there was transferred to Nyeri Diocese.

Until his elevation to Bishop, father Muhatia was serving in Kakamega as priest and was also rector of St Thomas Aquinas seminary in Nairobi.

The 41 year old priest has had a chequered career in the Catholic Church having graduated with a licentiate and doctorate degree in philosophy at pontifical holy cross university in Rome Italy in 2002.

Muhatia attended propaedeutic seminary in Molo and later joined St. Austin major seminary in Mabanga where he graduated with a diploma in philosophy in 1992.

In 1994 he graduated in theology at Urbaniana University.

Father Muhatia has served at St Joseph cathedral church in Kakamega as assistant priest in 1994, vice rector and teacher at St Peter minor seminary in Mukumu between 1995 and 1998.

He is also currently the executive secretary of the Episcopal commission for the catholic doctrine.

Meanwhile, Pope Benedict XVI has moved Pope John Paul II one step closer to possible beatification, the milestone before sainthood.

Benedict on Saturday approved a decree attesting to John Paul'sheroic virtues.

Benedict still must sign off on a miracle attributed to John Paul's intercession before the late pope can be beatified.

Benedict put the Polish pontiff on the fast track for sainthood just weeks after his April 2, 2005 death, waiving the customary five-year waiting period and allowing the investigation into John Paul's virtues to begin immediately.

Benedict also approved a decree on the heroic virtues of Pope Pius XII, despite opposition from Jews who say the World War II-era pope didn't do enough to stop the Holocaust.