NAIROBI, NOVEMBER 12, 2025 (CISA) –The Catholic Church in Kenya is mourning the death of Rt. Rev. Philip Sulumeti, the founding Bishop of Kakamega and a towering pioneer of the post-missionary African episcopate, who died at 88 on Sunday, November 9, 2025, closing a monumental chapter in the nation’s ecclesiastical history. Remembered as the bridge between the missionary era and the birth of a firmly rooted local Church in Western Kenya, Bishop Sulumeti leaves behind a legacy marked by almost six decades of priesthood, resolute leadership, and a life lived wholly for God and country.
A Life of Firsts, Faith, and Foundation Building
Rt. Rev. Philip Sulumeti was born on August 15, 1937, and formed in the faith during a period when the Church in Kenya was still under missionary leadership. From those early days, he would grow to become not only a participant in history, but a maker of it.
He was ordained a priest of Kisumu on January 6, 1966, at the age of 28, entering ministry at a time when the first African clergy were assuming leadership in the young Church. Six years later, on May 28, 1972, Pope Paul VI appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of Kisumu and Titular Bishop of Urci. His episcopal consecration followed on August 20, 1972, a historic moment that marked the rise of one of Kenya’s defining Church leaders.
After four years serving as auxiliary, he became the third Bishop and first African local ordinary of Kisumu on December 9, 1976. Only two years later, on February 28, 1978, he was tasked with a mission that would define his legacy: shepherding the newly created Diocese of Kakamega. Installed as its first bishop, he laid the spiritual, pastoral, and structural foundation for a diocese that now spans Kakamega and Vihiga counties, covering more than 3,500 square kilometers.
His leadership was rooted in simplicity and action, “he walked the talk and molded with his hands,” many fondly recall. For 37 years, he guided the growing Catholic community through its formative decades, nurturing vocations, establishing parishes and schools, and forming generations of clergy and faithful.
Bishop Sulumeti retired on December 5, 2014, becoming Bishop Emeritus of Kakamega. After an extraordinary 53 years as bishop and nearly 60 years as a priest, his passing in Nairobi Hospital at 11 p.m. on Sunday evening marked the end of an era, the last of the early African Catholic bishops in Kenya who transitioned the Church from missionary foundations to indigenous leadership.
His successor, Bishop Joseph Obanyi Sagwe, confirmed his death, asking the faithful to pray for the repose of his soul. Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.
Nation Pays Tribute to a Shepherd of Peace, Education and Justice
Tributes have flowed from across Kenya and beyond, reflecting the profound impact Bishop Sulumeti had on the Church and society.
President William Ruto led the nation in mourning, calling him “a devoted servant of God, a pillar of faith, and a compassionate shepherd whose life and ministry transformed communities.” The President added, “As the founding Bishop of the Diocese of Kakamega, he built not only institutions, but hope; nurturing the spiritual, educational, and social foundations of countless families across our nation.”
He praised Bishop Sulumeti’s moral clarity and humility, saying, “His voice served the Church, but also echoed in matters of justice, human dignity, and national unity.”
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, described him as “a moral compass, peacemaker, and selfless servant who devoted his life to advancing education, social justice, and peace.”
Kenyatta praised his humility and compassion, noting that “his legacy of faith, unity, and love will remain deeply etched in the hearts of all who knew him.”
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula hailed the late bishop as one of Kenya’s most respected Church leaders, whose voice carried weight far beyond the pulpit.
“He played a pivotal role in Kenya’s constitutional review process,” Wetang’ula said, adding “Bishop Sulumeti championed education, social justice, and peace, and served with humility and selflessness for the betterment of society.”
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said he would “always treasure our personal interactions and the wisdom he shared,” adding, “Beyond his pastoral service, he will be remembered as a voice of reason during Kenya’s constitutional review process in 2006.”
Across Kakamega and Vihiga, parishioners recall a bishop who knew his people, visited villages with pastoral zeal, and built institutions that uplifted families spiritually and socially. Catholic faithful across the country remember him as a shepherd who formed priests, strengthened communities, and modeled a life of simplicity and devotion.
