KENYA: “I Assure you my Dedication,” Bishop-elect of Kenya’s Homabay Diocese

Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA

Days after Pope Francis appointed Fr. Michael Otieno Odiwa as Bishop-elect of Kenya’s Homabay Diocese, the incoming Local Ordinary has promised to be dedicated in his new ministry to serve the people of Homa Bay.

“I wish to assure you all my dedication to pick up the mantle from the wise and humble leadership of his Grace Philip Arnold Subira Anyolo, now the Archbishop of the Metropolitan of Kisumu, to continue the ministry and mission of our salvation to the people and to the clergy for the greater glory of God,” the Bishop-elect said in a video clip shared on Tuesday, December 1.

He added while addressing the clergy, Religious men and women and all Christians, “I humbly accept the honour and privilege accorded to me to serve as the next bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Homabay.”

Homabay Diocese has been under the leadership of Archbishop Anyolo as Apostolic Administrator following his appointment as archbishop of Kisumu Archdiocese in November 2018.

Announcing the appointment of the new bishop-elect on Sunday, November 29 on Radio Arise of Homabay Diocese, Archbishop Anyolo said, “We all rejoice that our prayers have been answered. As we rejoice, let us prepare our hearts to welcome the new Bishop, the new Shepherd of the people of Homa Bay.”

He added, “I ask you to pray for him so that he may fit in this new appointment that is never easy at all. He will need our prayers so that he may shepherd us in this challenging moments of our lives ever since creation.”

The bishop-elect is currently working in the Archdiocese of Adelaide South Australia as an assistant Parish Priest in-charge of Italian speaking community of the Annunciation Church Hectorville Parish as well as defender of Bond Tribunal of the province of Adelaide South Australia and Northern Territories.

He was born on 11, November 1962 in Sori, Karungu, ordained deacon on 17, May 1992, and a Priest for the Catholic Diocese of Homa Bay on 3^,July 1993. He is the former Vicar General of Homabay Diocese