Archdiocese of Nairobi
| Archdiocese of Nairobi Archidioecesis Nairobiensis | |
|---|---|
| Interior of the Holy Family Cathedral
Interior of the Holy Family Cathedral
| |
| Location | |
| Country | Kenya |
| Ecclesiastical province | Nairobi |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 3,271 km2 (1,263 sq mi) |
| Population Total Catholics |
(as of 2013) 4,687,481 2,911,099 (62.1%) |
| Parishes | 115 |
| Information | |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | 1860 |
| Cathedral | Holy Family cathedral |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Leo XIV |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Philip Anyolo |
| Auxiliary Bishops | David Kamau Obed Muriungi Karobia |
| Bishops emeritus | John Njue |
| Website | |
| archdioceseofnairobi.org | |
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Archdiocese of Nairobi — The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (Latin: Nairobien(sis)) is the Metropolitan See for the ecclesiastical province of Nairobi in Kenya, and the Primatial see for Kenya.
History
- 26 February 1860: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Zanguebar from the Diocese of Saint-Denis-de-La Réunion in Réunion
- 23 November 1883: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Zanguebar
- 1887: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Zanguebar
- 21 December 1906: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Zanzibar
- 25 March 1953: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nairobi
Special churches
The seat of the archbishop is a minor basilica, the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Nairobi.
Bishops
- Vicar Apostolic of Northern Zanguebar (Latin Church)
- Bishop Jean-Marie-Raoul Le Bas de Courmont (27 October 1883 – 27 November 1896)
- Vicars Apostolic of Zanzibar (Latin Church)
- Bishop Emile-Auguste Allgeyer (17 February 1897 – 3 April 1913)
- Bishop John Gerald Neville (1 September 1913 – 8 March 1930)
- Bishop John William Heffernan (15 March 1932 - 7 June 1945)
- Bishop John Joseph McCarthy (11 July 1946 – 25 March 1953); see below
- Metropolitan Archbishops of Nairobi (Latin Church)
- Archbishop John Joseph McCarthy (25 March 1953 – 24 October 1971);[1] see above
- Archbishop Maurice Michael Otunga (24 October 1971 – 14 May 1997) (Cardinal in 1973)
- Archbishop Raphael Ndingi Mwana'a Nzeki (21 April 1997 – 6 October 2007)
- Archbishop John Njue (6 October 2007 – 4 January 2021) (Cardinal in 2007)
- Archbishop Philip Anyolo (28 October 2021 – present)[2]
Coadjutor Archbishops
- Raphael Simon Ndingi Mwana’a Nzeki (1996-1997)
- Maurice Michael Otunga (1969-1971); future Cardinal
Auxiliary Bishops
- Anthony Ireri Mukobo (1999-2006). Appointed Vicar Apostolic of Isiolo
- David Kamau Ng'ang'a (Since 22 December 1999)
- Alfred Kipkoech Arap Rotich (1996-1997). Appointed Bishop of Kenya, Military
- Simon Peter Kamomoe (13 February 2024 - 5 July 2025)[3] Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Wote[4]
- Wallace Ng'ang'a Gachihi (13 February 2024 - 12 October 2024). Appointed Bishop of Kenya, Military (Since 12 October 2024)[5]
- Obed Muriungi Karobia (Auxiliary Bishop-Elect) (Since 26 March 2026)[6]
Suffragan dioceses
Canonical status and jurisdiction
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi is a metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church.[7]
- Part of: Ecclesiastical Province of Nairobi
External links
References
- Back to citation Archbishop John Joseph McCarthy, Catholic hierarchy, retrieved 28 October 2015
- Back to citation "Pope Francis picks Archbishop Philip Anyolo to head Nairobi Catholic Church". 28 October 2021.
- Back to citation "Resignations and Appointments". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- Back to citation ACI Africa (5 July 2025). "Bishop Kamomoe, Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Kenya's Wote Catholic Diocese". ACI Africa. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
- Back to citation Joe Mwirigi (12 October 2024). "Rev. Wallace Ng'ang'a Gachihi installed as Bishop of Kenya's Military Ordinariate". Citizen Digital. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- Back to citation Mary Wanjohi (27 March 2026). "Meet Obed Muriungi, Kenya's Youngest Newly Appointed Catholic Bishop". The Kenyan Times. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- Back to citation Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi, official website