Pope Leo XIV Erects Kapsabet Diocese, Appoints First Bishop

The Holy Father Pope Leo XIV has officially erected the Catholic Diocese of Kapsabet in Kenya, making it the 28th Catholic diocese in the country. The new ecclesiastical territory, carved out of the Diocese of Eldoret, will serve the faithful of Nandi County and will function as a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kisumu.

Appointed as the first Bishop of Kapsabet is Rt. Rev. John Kiplimo Lelei, who until now served as the Auxiliary Bishop of Eldoret. His appointment also marks his release from the titular see of Mons in Numidia.

Rt. Rev. John Kiplimo Lelei (credit – KCCB)

๐๐ซ๐จ๐Ÿ๐ข๐ฅ๐ž ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฉ ๐‹๐ž๐ฅ๐ž๐ข

Born on August 15, 1958, in Soy, Diocese of Eldoret, Bishop Lelei was ordained a priest on October 26, 1985. He studied philosophy at St. Augustineโ€™s Senior Seminary in Mabanga and theology at St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Nairobi.

He later earned a doctorate in theology, with a specialisation in liturgy, from the University of Vienna (Universitรคt Wien).

Bishop Lelei has served in a variety of pastoral and academic roles including:

  • Parish vicar in Suwerwa and Chepterit
  • Parish priest in multiple parishes including Yamumbi, Chepterit, and Tachasis
  • Vicar forane of the deaneries of Kitale and Nandi
  • Lecturer and formator at institutions such as theย AMECEA Pastoral Institute (Gaba), Institute of Development Studies (Kobujoi), and St. Matthias Mulumba Senior Seminary (Tindinyo)
  • Rector ofย St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminaryย in Nairobi (2017โ€“2023)
  • Vicar General of Eldoret Diocese
  • Parish assignments in Vienna and across Kenya

He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Eldoret on March 27, 2024, and was consecrated on May 25, 2024.

๐“๐ก๐ž ๐๐ž๐ฐ ๐ƒ๐ข๐จ๐œ๐ž๐ฌ๐ž

The Diocese of Kapsabet, with Kapsabet town as its episcopal see, corresponds to the boundaries of Nandi County. The Cathedral Church of the diocese will be St. Peterโ€™s Parish in Kapsabet.

According to the most recent statistics:

  • Area: 2,888.4 kmยฒ
  • Population: 885,711
  • Catholics: 313,655
  • Parishes: 36
  • Diocesan Priests: 44
  • Missionary Priests: 8
  • Religious Sisters: 44
  • Seminarians: 29
  • Catechists: 316
  • Educational Institutions: 326 (8 are charitable institutions)

As the Diocese of Kapsabet opens this new chapter, the Catholic Church in Kenya welcomes it with joy and prayerful support for its first shepherd.

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