KENYA: KCCB gets New Team of Office Bearers
The Kenya Conference of the Catholic Bishops (KCCB) held elections of new Office Bearers for different Commissions and National offices in accordance with article IX of the KCCB Status on Election Procedures.
From the time of their election, the officials have a three years mandate to co-ordinate and implement all the activities, which express the mission of the Catholic Church in Kenya.
In a list read by the Archbishop of Nairobi His Eminence John Cardinal Njue on 13th, April 2018 after the Bishops’ Plenary Assembly held at Clergy House in Nairobi, the Bishop of Homabay Rt. Rev. Philip Anyolo has retained his position as the Chairman of KCCB and therefore he continues to be the Administrator of the KCCB-General Secretariat.
Bishop Anyolo will continue to preside over all the Ordinary and Extra-ordinary Plenary Assemblies and also the Permanent Council of Bishops. He is the official spokesperson of the Conference and represents the KCCB in all local and international forums either personally or by delegation. He is responsible for the continuity of the Conference’s activities, for the supervision of the work of the General Secretariat with the assistance of the Vice chairman- KCCB and for reports on the Permanent Council’s activities to the Plenary Assembly meetings.
The Bishop of Ngong Rt. Rev. Obala Owaa has not only retained his position as the Vice Chairman of KCCB but has also been elected as the Chairman of the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) and Commission for Finance.
The Vice Chairman functions shall be to fill the office of the Chairman with all rights and duties when the Chairman himself is lawfully impeded. The Vice Chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops is the Principal Administrator of the KCCB-General Secretariat. He gives Episcopal oversight, direction, monitors compliance, ensures inter-commission harmonisation and represent the Permanent Council of Bishops as the employer of the General Secretariat personnel in all staffing issues.
The following are the chairmen for the other commissions: Commission for Development and Social Services/Caritas Kenya, Archbishop of Mombasa Most Rev. Martin Kivuva Musonde; the commission for Education and Religious Education, Rt. Rev. Paul Kariuki Njiri; Catholic Health Commission, Rt. Rev. Joseph Mbatia; Pastoral and Lay Apostolate, Archbishop of Nyeri Most Rev. Anthony Muheria; Social Communication, Rt. Rev. Joseph Obanyi; Commission for Doctrine, Rt. Rev. Peter Kihara; Liturgy, Rt. Rev. Anthony Ireri Mukobo; Commission for Missions, Rt. Rev. Joseph Alessandro.
The Bishop of Nakuru Rt. Rev. Maurice Muhatia Makumba is the Chairman of Seminary Episcopal and the Vice Chairman of the Commission for Finance, while the Bishop of Lodwar Rt. Rev. Dominic Kimengich will head the Canon law National Office.
By Rose Achiego, KCCB
