Pope Francis Appoints Archbishop Philip Anyolo As Archbishop of Nairobi

The Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kisumu, Most Rev. Philip A. Anyolo, as Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi.

The news of Archbishop Anyolo’s appointment was officially published in L’Osservatore Romano in Rome on 28th October 2021 at 12-noon Rome time and 1.00p.m. Kenyan time. The Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan, His Excellency Archbishop Bert Van Megen, also sent an official communication to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) communicating the same.

Archbishop-elect of Nairobi, Most Rev. Philip Anyolo, who is the former Chairman of KCCB (from October 2013 to May 2021), will be taking over from Archbishop Emeritus John Cardinal Njue who retired on 4th January 2021 having attained the official retirement age for bishops. Nairobi Auxiliary Bishop David Kamau has been the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Nairobi from the time His Eminence John Cardinal Njue retired.

Archbishop Anyolo was born on 18th May 1956 in Tongaren, Bungoma. He was ordained a priest for the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret in 1983. Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Kericho on 6th December 1995 and was consecrated as Bishop of Kericho on 3rd February 1996. On 20th February 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 22nd March 2003 and installed as Bishop of Homabay on 23rd May 2003. On 15th November 2018, Archbishop Philip Anyolo was appointed the Archbishop of Kisumu and installed on 16th January 2019.