Pope Francis appoints Bishop Philip Anyolo as Archbishop of Kisumu

The Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed the Bishop of Homabay, Rt. Rev. Philip A. Anyolo, as Archbishop of Kisumu.

The news of Bishop Anyolo’s appointment was officially published in L’Osservatore Romano in Rome on November15, 2018, at 12-noon Rome time and 2.00p.m. Kenyan time. Outgoing Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan, His Excellency Archbishop Charles Daniel Balvo, also sent an official communication to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops on November 14, 2018.

Archbishop-elect Philip Anyolo, who is also the Chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), will be taking over from Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth who has attained the retirement age for bishops. Archbishop Okoth has been serving as Archbishop of Kisumu since May 21, 1990.

Archbishop-elect 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, The Holy Father John Paul II appointed him as Apostolic Administrator of Homabay upon the resignation of Rt. Rev. Linus Okok Okwach. He was appointed Bishop of Homabay on March 22, 2003 and installed as Bishop of Homabay 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.