Pope Francis Appoints Bishop Philip Anyolo as Archbishop of Nairobi

Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Philip Anyolo as the Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Nairobi.

Anyolo, who has been serving as the Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kisumu, replaces Cardinal John Njue who went on retirement in January. 

His appointment was first announced on Thursday through publication in Vatican City’s daily newspaper L’Osservatore Romano.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan Archbishop Bert Van Megen also sent an official communication about Anyolo’s appointment to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB).  

Born in Tongaren, Bungoma County in 1956, Anyolo was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1983. Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Kericho in 1995.

In 2002, Pope John Paul II appointed him as Apostolic Administrator of Homa Bay Diocese following the resignation of Rev. Linus Okok Okwach. He was installed as Bishop of Homa Bay in 2003.

On January 16th, 2019, Anyolo was appointed the Archbishop of Kisumu. He also served as the chairman of KCCB from October 2013 to May 2021.  

Nairobi Auxiliary Bishop David Kamau has been the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Nairobi since Njue’s retirement.