The Rt. Rev. Dr. Reuben was born in 1978 at Pangalugome village, Dungicha location in Ganze Sub-County, Kilifi County. He is the son of the late Nehemiah Harry Katite and Mama Elena Kabibi Katite. He is the last born in humble family of seven siblings. Reuben was born in a Christian family his grandfather the late Samuel Mwandhenge Ndurya and grandmother the late Rachel Kaidza Ngombo alongside the late Simeon Gota having been the pioneers of Christianity in Dungicha village. Reuben was baptized by the Rtrd Rev. Canon Harrison Kaingu Chengo and later confirmed by the late Bishop Crispus Nzano in the then Godoma Parish. Reuben became a born-again Christian in the year 1997 in a Tuktendereza fellowship.
The Ven. Capt. Reuben started schooling at Dungicha Primary School in the year 1984 and successfully completed his KCPE in 1991. He later joined St. George’s High School in Kaloleni but dropped out of School when he was in form 2 due to lack of school fees.
Reuben joined full time ministry in the year 1998 May as an untrained Evangelist posted to Ganze parish in Kilifi Archdeaconry in the then Mombasa Diocese. He was made a Lay reader in the year 1999 and served Ganze Parish until 2003 when he was transferred to Vitengeni Parish. In his time in Ganze Parish, the Parish grew both spiritually and numerically. He planted 2 more churches to make 5 while in Vitengeni he planted 3 more churches to make 11. He served Vitengeni until the year 2005 when with the help of the Rtrd Bishop Lawrence Dena, he secured a conditional admission to Carlile College School of Theology to do a Higher Diploma in Theology due the low level of academic qualification he had then. He successfully completed the first year hence was confirmed by the then Dean of academics Rev. Dr. Peter Nyende to continue with the Higher Diploma. The Rtrd Bishop Kalu assisted in getting a scholarship through a friend in the UK who had sponsored another student by the name Rev. Capt. Benson Safari. He is deeply indebted by the Rev. Robert Miles who paid the full fees for him through the Higher Diploma studies.
He did very well and managed to score a Distinction in the year 2008 which opened a door for a scholarship for him to do a Bachelor Degree with the University of South Africa (UNISA). He was not able to do the degree because he lacked the KCSE certificate. He was commissioned as a Church Army officer (Captain) in the year 2008 and later made a deacon by the Rtrd Bishop Julius Kalu in the year 2009 and priested in the year 2010 in the Diocese of Mombasa. He was thereafter posted to ACK St. Andrew’s Soweto Parish as the curate under the Rev. George Kuza (2010-2013) ACK Mafisini Parish as the Vicar (2014), ACK St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral as the Vicar of the Pro-Cathedral (2015) ACK St Paul’s Mnarani as the Vicar and Area dean (2016) and ACK St. Thomas Kilifi Parish as the Vicar and Archdeacon of Kilifi (2017 to 2021)
Reuben then joined Carlile College School of Business Studies and enrolled himself to do the KCSE as a private candite. He did the examination in the year 2009 and attained a C plain. With this, he enrolled himself to do the BTh. With UNISA and graduated with a distinction in the year 2013 October 17th. Did a Master Degree in Philosophy and Religion with Pwani University and graduated in the year 2022 May 26th. He is currently a PhD candidate in Religion and Philosophy at Pwani University.
The Ven. Capt. Reuben has a wide and rich experience in church ministry having worked in different Parishes both rural and urban. He has also worked as a Lay reader, Evangelist, Curate, Vicar, the first Vicar of the Pro-Cathedral of Malindi Diocese and Archdeacon. He is a great believer in transformational leadership and a church planter.
The Ven. Capt. Reuben married Eunice Bahati on 15th December 2001. They are blessed with 4 children, 2 girls and 2 boys, namely: Comfort Faraja, Gift Hossanah Baraka, Innocent Haki and Charity Muvera.
The Ven. Capt. Reuben has served as the TEE coordinator in the Diocese of Malindi since 2015. He has also been the Center coordinator of the Diploma in School Chaplaincy studies, Malindi center which is offered jointly by St. Paul’s University and Carlile College. He is currently the chairman of the Board of Management Dungicha Secondary School and Dungicha Primary School. He is also a member of the Board of Management and Chairman of the Discipline Sub-committees of St. Thomas Girls Secondary School and Bahari Girls High School. Ven. Capt. Reuben is also the chaplain of Pwani University and the Vice Chairman NCCK Kilifi County. Currently the Vice Chairman NCCK Coast Region and also a member of the CBEF and CEB Kilifi County.
It is with great humility that he enters this new phase of his life. He certainly requires your prayers and support now more than ever before to enable him to effectively discharge his duties as the second Bishop of Malindi diocese to the glory of God.