EXPLAINER: Who Was Bishop Emeritus Philip Sulumeti?
Bishop Emeritus Rt. Rev. Philip Anyolo Sulumeti, one of Kenya’s most revered Catholic leaders, has passed away.
The Catholic Diocese of Kakamega stated that the long-serving prelate died at 11 p.m. on November 9, 2025, at Nairobi Hospital.
Kakamega Diocese Bishop Joseph Obanyi confirmed the news and requested the faithful to remember the late bishop in their prayers as funeral preparations began.
“I request you to keep him in prayers, remembering him in the masses, as we begin making arrangements for his burial, which shall be communicated in due course,” Bishop Obanyi stated.
“To all the people of God of Kakamega, relatives and friends, we express our condolences and pledge our prayerful accompaniment during these difficult moments.”
Sulumeti’s death brings to an end a remarkable ecclesiastical journey that lasted nearly five decades and transformed the spiritual and social landscape of Western Kenya.
Born on August 15, 1937, he was consecrated as a priest for the Diocese of Kisumu on January 6, 1966.
His ascension to church leadership began in 1972, when he was appointed as Auxiliary Bishop of Kisumu and Titular Bishop of Urci.
He was ordained on August 20, the same year. Four years later, in December 1976, he became Bishop of Kisumu, succeeding Bishop Joannes de Reeper of the Mill Hill Missionaries, with whom he had worked closely.
On February 28, 1978, he was appointed the first Bishop of Kakamega, a position he took up with enthusiasm and pastoral zeal.
His leadership came at a time when the region was facing major socioeconomic issues, and he immediately gained recognition for his modesty, steady demeanor, and hands-on commitment to community development.
Sulumeti advocated for the expansion of Catholic-sponsored schools, claiming that education was the key to communal reform.
He worked with teachers, parents, and community leaders to increase learning facilities and promote equal opportunity for boys and girls.
His guidance helped to increase academic standards throughout the region.
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He promoted agricultural ventures, self-help organizations, and community health programs as part of a comprehensive pastoral care strategy.
Sulumeti retired on December 5, 2014, leaving a history of service, development, and unshakable commitment to the Catholic Church.
His legacy lives on in the institutions he helped to build and the leaders he mentored.
The Diocese of Kakamega is scheduled to release the funeral details.
EXPLAINER: Who Was Bishop Emeritus Philip Sulumeti?
