Former Kakamega Catholic Bishop Philip Sulumeti dies
Nairobi, Kenya — November 10, 2025 — Former Kakamega Catholic Diocese Bishop Philip Sulumeti passed away while receiving treatment at a Nairobi hospital on Sunday night, the Catholic Church has confirmed.
Church officials confirmed that Bishop Sulumeti died last night, though details about the cause of death remain undisclosed.
Bishop Sulumeti, who retired in 2014 after decades of service in the Catholic Church, was widely respected for his leadership, advocacy for education, and commitment to peace and social justice in western Kenya. He served as the founding Bishop of the Kakamega Diocese, which was established in 1978, and was known for his pastoral outreach and efforts to strengthen Catholic education institutions across the region.
Chief Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, expressed his condolences, saying:
“Deeply saddened by the passing of Rt. Rev. Philip Sulumeti, Bishop Emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Kakamega. I will always treasure our personal interactions and the wisdom he shared. My heartfelt condolences to the Catholic faithful and all Kenyans whose lives he touched since his ordination in 1966. Beyond his pastoral service, he will be remembered as a voice of reason during Kenya’s constitutional review process in 2006. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
The Catholic Church is expected to release an official statement later today, with funeral arrangements to be announced in due course.
