Bishop Dr. David Nguli Kalua, HSC
Birth & Early Life
Bishop Dr. David Nguli Kalua was born in 1937, in Kyamutula Village, Wamunyu Location, Machakos District. He was the first-born child of Kalua Kyambo and Lenah Kalakwe, and a brother to Tabitha Mwikya (all of whom are now deceased) and Benard Nzuki. Bishop Kalua was industrious and started working at an early age. Between 1953 and 1955, he moved to Nairobi where he was employed as a coffee picker at a coffee farm where he would earn a monthly salary of Kshs. 15. In 1949, his parents moved to Kitui District where he joined them for his education at Ikanga Primary School. He later transferred to Lema Primary School in Machakos District.
Family First
In 1968, Bishop Kalua married the love of his life Deborah Kavuu Kioli. Her exuberant personality complemented his calm nature. They formed a dream team of love and were blessed with four children: Isaac Kalua, John Kioli, Julia Kalua, and Anne Ndinda Shivo. Bishop Kalua was a loving father and husband who would give up anything for the sake of his family. In 1980, he resigned from a promising career in the Prisons Service in order to focus fully on raising his children, some of whom were now approaching their teenage years.
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The Warder & Gardener
Bishop Kalua was a calm yet vibrant personality who dedicated his whole life to the service of humanity. He started his career in the church environment, working as a gardener in Ruiru and Pangani, before moving briefly to the All Saints Cathedral. He then joined the Prisons Training College in Nairobi West where he graduated as a prison warder. He was trained at the Nairobi City Park as a gardener and florist. He served the prisons department with distinction and in 1965, was promoted to the
rank of Lance Corporal. He later rose to become a Senior Sergeant of Prisons. An environmentalist to the core, Bishop Kalua spent most of his working life, doing what had been his passion from childhood — taking care of the plants that God created. His gardening work entailed tending to flowers and plants; ensuring that
A Legacy of Stewardship
Bishop David Kalua not only committed his life to being a faithful steward, but also passed it on to the next generation. He took care of plants and flowers and instilled in his sons Isaac and John a lifelong passion for the environment. He took care of his precious wife Deborah and their four children Isaac, John, Julia and Anne, with dedication. He took care of the souls that God entrusted into his care as their Pastor and Bishop. Indeed,
his lifelong motto was ‘suvia kila winakyo,’ which means, take care of what you have. Through this, he demonstrated servant leadership in all his endeavors. And in recognition of his outstanding leadership, he was conferred a Doctorate in leadership in August 2018 by the University of America in Kabarnet, alongside twenty other Kenyan Bishops. He was so
beholden to God’s omnipotence that he literally engraved the words “Vinya wa Mwiai” (God’s might) inside his house and on window grills.
A Time to Rest
Throughout his life, Nau, was strong and graceful, with no major health concerns. About 10 years ago he was diagnosed with Diabetes which was well managed thanks to the great and consistent efforts of a great family friend Dr. Kisyoka and his dedicated colleagues.
On 16th November 2020, he was successfully fitted with a pacemaker to support his heart function. On 2nd December 2020, he abruptly developed a heart complication and was admitted at the Mater Hospital in Nairobi, for treatment. He improved so much that he was due to be discharged on Friday 11th December 2020. However, on the evening of Thursday 10th December, he developed chest pain and his blood pressure dropped suddenly. Doctors immediately put him on medication to raise his blood pressure and by around 7.30pm that evening, his pressure was near normal and he was transferred to the HDU for further monitoring. By 9:10pm he had stabilized and could even talk. But the blood pressure kept going down and doctors had to use a second set of medication to sustain him. But his breath started failing at about 4.30am, and he had to be put on a ventilator. Shortly after 6am that same morning, he suffered a cardiac arrest. The doctors tried to resuscitate him, but he did not make it. At 6.15 am he went to be with his Maker, the All-knowing God, whom he had spent his entire life serving and making known to the world.