NAIROBI, DECEMBER 9, 2014(CISA) – Pope Francis on December 5 appointed Rev Joseph Obanyi Sagwe as the new bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kakamega.
Until his appointment, the bishop–elect was the parish priest at St. Charles Lwanga Cathedral Parish Kisii and Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Kisii.
According to the Vatican, the Pope on the same day accepted the renunciation of the pastoral government of the diocese of Kakamega, presented by Bishop Philip Sulumeti, in conformity with the Code of Canon Law, canon 401 § 1.
Rev Joseph Obanyi was born in Kebiro, Kisii Diocese in 1967 and was ordained priest in October 25 1996. After primary and secondary school he studied Philosophy at St. Augustine major seminary in Mbaga, and Theology at St. Thomas Aquinas major seminary in Nairobi.
He has served as parish vicar and diocesan coordinator for pastoral ministry in the diocese of Kisii between 1996 and 1999. He studied at the Pontifical Lateran University from 1999 to 2004, and has been the parish priest at the cathedral since 2004 and Vicar General of the Catholic diocese of Kisii since 2005.
While announcing his resignation late last month, Bishop Sulumeti cited poor health.
“I want to announce to you that I have resigned as the bishop and head of the diocese because of my health cannot allow me to serve in this demanding position,” Sulumeti told the congregation at Bishop Stam Pastoral Centre in Kakamega.
Bishop Sulumeti is one of the long-serving clerics of the Church in Kenya having been ordained as a priest on January 6, 1966.
The Catholic Diocese of Kakamega was established on February 27, 1978 curved from the Diocese of Kisumu.
