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

Rt. Rev. John Kiplimo Lelei (credit โ€“ KCCB)

๐๐ซ๐จ๐Ÿ๐ข๐ฅ๐žย ๐จ๐Ÿย ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฉย ๐‹๐ž๐ฅ๐ž๐ข

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

He later earned aย doctorate in theology, with a specialisation in liturgy, from theย 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 appointedย Auxiliary Bishop of Eldoretย onย March 27, 2024, and was consecrated onย May 25, 2024.

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

The Diocese of Kapsabet, withย Kapsabet townย as its episcopal see, corresponds to the boundaries ofย Nandi County. Theย Cathedral Churchย of the diocese will beย St. Peterโ€™s Parishย 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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