The village Subukia is situated 210 km West from Nairobi, within the Grate Rift Valley, right at the Equator, in the Nakuru Catholic Diocese. The Marian Shrine in Kenya was proposed by Michael Cardinal Otunga through and Rt. Rev. Raphael Ndingi Mwana ‘a Nzeki then the bishop of Nakuru. Cardinal Otunga proposed that the Shrine be called “Village of Mary, Mother of God”. In 1984 some people claimed that they did see a Lady. Although the Church did not officially confirm the apparitions, surely they have helped the Christians to rediscover the importance of Our Lady’s presence in their lives and made the place popular for the pilgrims who come to praise God, asking Mary to intercede for them.
In 1988 the “Village of Mary, Mother of God” was officially proclaimed as National Marian Shrine. One year later an expected “good wisher” has offered 50 acres of land for the new site of the Shrine since the one at the parish of St. John Evangelist became too small. On 9th May 1991 first Eucharist was already celebrated at the new place as a thanksgiving for the generosity of the local people.A significant date was the 8th December 1991, the Feast of Immaculate Conception of Mary. On the eve of that day, the headman of the workers clearing the thick bush on the hill came upon a wet patch of ground, which had a small spring of clear water init. On opening a small gully down the slop, the water started flowing out, and has continued to flow without fail ever since. For the people it was a clear sign from heaven, since that time it was a terrible drought and the tribes fought for the water.
A shocking incident took place on the night of 19th April 1998, when shelters for the statue and the altar with its shelter were burned down. The statue of Mary from Ireland was completely smashed, and the damaged head later found in the bush. One of the groups that admitted responsibility for this vandalization stated that was told by God to go and destroy the statue, that for them was an idol, and God forbade idol worship.After that Fr. John Jones (then the administrator of the Shrine) set about replacing the old statue with a new one, carved out of jacaranda wood from Papal Nuncio’s residence in Nairobi and after approval of the bishops was brought to Subukia and blessed on 9th December 2000.It soon became obvious that the Village of Mary at Subukia is a place of great national potential in bringing Kenyans into one Family, under our Mother, Mary. Sacrament of Reconciliation and Mass are offered at the Shrine for the pilgrims who come from allover the country fasting and praying so that the peace and unity may prevail in Kenya. They also come because of their love for Mary, and for their own personal physical and spiritual needs. After return to Ireland of Fr. John Jones, the bishops start searching for the religious order to continue the mission. Fr. Francis Ruiru from Eldoret Diocese was administrator of the Shrine for a time being but in 2005 Episcopal Conference proposed Franciscans to take over. On 29th August 2005 Definitory of the Franciscan Custody in Kenya accepted the proposal and on 5th October 2006 the Friars officially entered the Shrine.The Pilgrims who visit Subukia will find there a Grotto – chapel with the statue of our Lady, The Way of the Cross, chapel of the Spring. However the new administrators – Franciscans, make already the plans to develop it into a beautiful place of prayer and meditation. Depends of the financial support of the faithful, there shall be big church, pilgrims’ hostel, retreat centre, monastery of the Poor Clare Sister, chapel for the sacrament of reconciliation and perpetual adoration, multipurpose conference hall, etc.