Archdiocese of Nairobi
Roman Catholic archdiocese in Kenya
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
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Country
Kenya
KenyaEcclesiastical provinceNairobi
Area3,271 km2 (1,263 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
- (as of 2013)
- 4,687,481
- 2,911,099 (62.1%)
Archdiocese of Nairobi Archidioecesis Nairobiensis | |
|---|---|
Interior of the Holy Family Cathedral | |
| Location | |
| Country | Kenya |
| Ecclesiastical province | Nairobi |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 3,271 km2 (1,263 sq mi) |
Population
|
|
| 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 (Auxiliary Bishop-Elect) |
| Bishops emeritus | John Njue |
| Website | |
| archdioceseofnairobi.org | |
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
Wikisource has the text of a 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia article about Apostolic Vicariate of Zanzibar.
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]