Pope Francis appoints Philip Anyolo as Kisumu Archbishop

Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops chairman Rt. Rev Philip Anyolo during a press conference on May 18, 2018. /ENOS TECHE
Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops chairman Rt. Rev Philip Anyolo during a press conference on May 18, 2018. /ENOS TECHE

Pope Francis has appointed the Bishop of Homa Bay Philip Anyolo as Archbishop of Kisumu Catholic Diocese.

The news of Anyolo’s appointment was officially published in L’Osservatore Romano in Rome on Thursday.

Anyolo, who is also the chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, will be taking over from Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth.

The latter has attained the retirement age for bishops having served in the post

since May 21, 1990.

Anyolo was born on May 18, 1956 in Tongaren, Bungoma.

He was ordained priest for the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret in 1983.

Pope John Paul II appointed him bishop of Kericho on December 6, 1995, and was consecrated as bishop of Kericho on February 3, 1996.

On February 20, 2002, Pope John appointed him as Apostolic Administrator of Homa Bay upon the resignation of Rt. Rev. Linus Okok Okwach.

He was appointed bishop of Homa Bay on March 22, 2003, and installed as bishop on May 23, 2003.

He was elected Chairman of KCCB in October 2013, and is currently serving his second term. Previously, he served as the KCCB vice chairman.

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