Bishop Emeritus Philip Sulumeti (15 August 1937 – 9 November 2025)
The Catholic Church in Kenya and the faithful of the Diocese of Kakamega and beyond are mourning the loss of one of its most stalwart shepherds, Bishop Emeritus Philip Sulumeti, who died on the night of Sunday 9 November 2025, in Nairobi at the age of 88.
Philip Sulumeti was born on 15 August 1937 in Kotur village in what is now Busia County (then the Colony and Protectorate of Kenya).
He pursued his seminary formation in East Africa and was ordained a priest on 6 January 1966 for the Diocese of Kisumu.
Rise to the Episcopate & Founding of Kakamega Diocese
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In 1972 he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Kisumu and became titled Bishop of Urci.
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In 1976 he succeeded as Bishop of Kisumu.
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On 28 February 1978, he was appointed the first Bishop of the Diocese of Kakamega, marking the beginning of his long and influential tenure in Western Kenya.
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He served in that role until his retirement on 5 December 2014.
Legacy in Service, Education & Social Justice
Bishop Sulumeti will be remembered for several key contributions:
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He helped build up the Catholic Church’s infrastructure in Western Kenya establishing parishes, schools, health centres and nurturing vocations among young people.
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He had a reputation for humility, pastoral closeness to the faithful, and a particular concern for the marginalized. For example, political and community leaders praised him as a “defender of the marginalised” and a “towering spiritual leader.”
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He served during challenging times in Kenya’s political and social history, contributing to dialogue, peace-building and the strengthening of Catholic education in the region.
The Church Mourns & Tributes Flow
His passing prompted immediate condolences from the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, which expressed gratitude for his dedicated pastoral service and humble witness to the mission of Christ.
Leaders outside the Church also paid tribute:
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Kalonzo Musyoka described him as a spiritual pillar and extended his condolences to the faithful, the family and the Church.
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Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua noted that Sulumeti served God and humanity in great faith, speaking truth and living by it.
His leadership helped ensure that the Diocese of Kakamega became a strong base for Catholic education and formation in Western Kenya. Schools and institutions raised under his watch continue to serve communities. His model of pastoral attentiveness and social justice provides a blueprint for future church leadership in Kenya combining faith, service and societal engagement. Though retired, his influence remained, as younger clergy and lay faithful looked up to him for mentorship, counsel and example.
As the Diocese of Kakamega prepares funeral and memorial arrangements (details to be communicated in due course) , the faithful are encouraged to remember Bishop Sulumeti in their Masses, prayers and personal reflection.
His episcopal motto, “Ut Unum Sint” (“That They May Be One”) echoes his lifelong commitment to unity within the Church, in community, and in service to all people.
May his soul be at peace, and may his legacy continue to bear fruit in the lives of many.
