ELDORET, FEBRUARY 4, 2020 (CISA) – “I have listened to what people have said, and I can summarize in one word, “Fuata nyayo za Askofu Korir. Follow the footsteps of Bishop Korir” and I can assure you that I will do my best,” Bishop Dominic Kimengich told thousands of faithful, including politicians who thronged the Mary Mother of Apostles Seminary on February 1, to witness his installation as bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret.
“That is what I want to pledge in front of all these people that I will do my best and put all my effort to ensure that what Bishop Korir will continue,” he added noting that he had worked closely with the late bishop Korir.
“I was very close to Bishop Korir. We were seminarians in the Catholic diocese of Nakuru together. At that time Bishop Ndingi Mwana’a Nzeki was very strong in matters of social justice, very strong in bringing people of Nakuru and people of Kenya together so I know I know what Bishop Korir had and what he wanted for this diocese and I can assure that I will continue to do my best,” he said.
The bishop who previously headed the Catholic diocese of Lodwar noted that he was not new to conflict resolution, as he had faced similar challenges along Kenya’s borders with South Sudan and Ethiopia, and Uganda.
Coming from Lodwar, as my Governor Josephat Nanok has said we have been experiencing challenges and I know what it means when there is insecurity… I know what it means to lose people, even our own Christians because of insecurity. It’s my prayer that truly the communities around Turkana, Baringo, West Pokot, and Marakwet that truly we may learn to live together so that we can build our country,” he said.
The bishop noted that when the Church and the political and government leaders come together then peace efforts in the region can be achieved.
“I am really touched by the show of unity by the leaders of the diocese of Eldoret and this region. I met the three governors of the three counties, Nandi, Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet. I know together we will be able to work together and continue that great work which the great Bishop Korir did in this diocese,” he said.
It is prayer and indeed the prayer of all of us Kenyans that truly we’ll never go back to those days when our people were not really living as that family of God. Politics should not divide us. “May peace reign in Kenya. We know we are all Kenyans and we must live together. We have no other country. We have to build this country so that there is peace, harmony tranquility and we are able to do the work of God,” he concluded.
Bishop Cornelius Korir, who died in 2017, was an ardent peace maker who was determined to see the communities in Eldoret diocese live in peace. He was bishop of Eldoret for 27 years.
