12/11/2025
Some of the deceased Catholic bishops in Kenya
Caesar Gatimu (1921–1987)
Caesar Gatimu was ordained a priest on 17 March 1947. He was consecrated as Auxiliary Bishop of Nyeri on 21 May 1961 and later served as Bishop of Nyeri from 1964 until his death on 20 February 1987. He played a significant role in the growth of the Catholic Church in the Nyeri region.
Nicodemus Kirima (1936–2007)
Born in Karatina, Nyeri County, Kirima was ordained a priest on 22 December 1962 and consecrated as a bishop on 14 May 1978. He served as Bishop and later Archbishop of Nyeri from 1990 until his death on 27 November 2007, contributing to pastoral development and social engagement in his archdiocese.
Silas Silvius Njiru (1928–2020)
Njiru was ordained a priest on 17 December 1955 and appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Meru in 1975. He became Bishop of Meru in 1976 and retired in 2004. He passed away on 28 April 2020 in Italy, reportedly due to COVID‑19 complications.
Ambrogio Ravasi (1929–2020)
Italian-born Ravasi served as Bishop of Marsabit, Kenya, from 1981 until his retirement in 2006. He was known for his work among indigenous communities and died in Kenya in 2020.
Longinus Atundo (1936–1996)
Atundo was the first Bishop of Bungoma, appointed in 1987. He served until his death in 1996, helping establish diocesan structures and pastoral programs in the newly created diocese.
Anthony Pascal Rebello (1950–2024)
Rebello, a Kenyan-born prelate of Goan heritage, served in Botswana and passed away in 2024.
Raphael S. Ndingi Mwana a’Nzeki (1931–2020)
Ndingi Mwana a’Nzeki served as Bishop of Machakos and Nakuru before being appointed Archbishop of Nairobi in 1997. He was an influential voice for justice and democracy in Kenya and passed away in 2020.
Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga (1923–2003)
Cardinal Otunga was the first Kenyan cardinal and served as Archbishop of Nairobi from 1971 to 1997. He was a key figure in the growth of the Church in Kenya and a spiritual leader to many Catholics.
Philip Sulumeti (c.1937–2025)
Sulumeti was ordained a priest in 1966 for the Diocese of Kisumu. When the Diocese of Kakamega was erected in 1978, he became its first bishop, serving until retirement in 2014. He passed away on 9 November 2025 while undergoing treatment at Nairobi Hospital.
Emanuel Barbara (1949–2018)
Born in Malta, Emanuel Barbara was ordained a priest on 20 July 1974 and appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Malindi, Kenya, on 1 October 2011. He served the diocese until his death on 5 January 2018.
Linus Okok Okwach (1952–2020)
Born in Ojolla, Kisumu County, Linus Okok Okwach was ordained a priest on 10 December 1980. He was appointed the first Bishop of Homa Bay on 18 October 1993 and consecrated on 31 December 1993. He resigned on 20 February 2002 and passed away on 12 September 2020 at St Monica Hospital, Kisumu. He was remembered for his pioneering role in establishing the Homa Bay Diocese.
