Pope appoints Archbishop Anyolo new Archbishop of Nairobi

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Pope Francis on Thursday, appointed Archbishop Philip Arnold Anyolo of Kenya’s Kisumu Archdiocese, the new Metropolitan Archbishop of Nairobi.

The appointment followed the retirement of Cardinal John Njue on Monday, January 4 2021.

According to AMECEA, Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya Archbishop Bert van Megen announced the appointment in a statement addressed to Church leaders.

Archbishop Anyolo was appointed by Pope Francis as Archbishop of Kisumu on November 15, 2018 and he was installed on January 16, 2019.

He took over from Archbishop Emeritus Zacchaeus Okoth upon who had then attained retirement age.

Vicar General of Kisumu noted that Archbishop Anyolo was given the mandate to continue serving as the Archbishop of Kisumu with all rights, privileges and obligations pertaining to a diocesan administrator.

He adds that the Archbishop will continue till the day he will take possession of the Metropolitan See of Nairobi.

Archbishop Anyolo was born on 18th May 1956 in Tongaren, Bungoma and later ordained a priest for the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret in 1983.

On 6th December 1995, he was appointed Bishop of Kericho by Pope John Paul II and consecrated 3rd February 1996.

On 20th February 2002, The Holy Father John Paul II appointed him as Apostolic Administrator of Homa Bay upon the resignation of Rt. Rev. Linus Okok Okwach.

He was later appointed Bishop of Homa Bay on 22nd March 2003 and installed on 23rd May 2003.

Nairobi Archdiocese has been vacant upon retirement of Cardinal Njue early this year.

Since then, the Auxiliary Bishop David Kamau served the Archdiocese as Apostolic Administrator.