Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi explained

Jurisdiction:	Archdiocese
Nairobi
Latin:	Archidioecesis Nairobiensis
Country:	Kenya
Province:	Nairobi
Rite:	Roman Rite
Sui Iuris Church:	Latin Church
Established:	1860
Cathedral:	Holy Family cathedral
Area Km2:	3,271
Population:	4,687,481
Population As Of:	2013
Catholics:	2,911,099
Catholics Percent:	62.1
Parishes:	115
Metro Archbishop:	Philip Anyolo
Bishop Title:	Metropolitan Archbishop
Auxiliary Bishops:	David Kamau Simon Peter Kamomoe
Website:	archdioceseofnairobi.org

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (la|Nairobien(sis)) is the Metropolitan See for the ecclesiastical province of Nairobi in Kenya, and the Primatial see for Kenya.

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

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 (Since 13 February 2024)^[3]
• Wallace Ng'ang'a Gachihi (13 February 2024 - 12 October 2024). Appointed Bishop of Kenya, Military (Since 12 October 2024)^[4]

Suffragan dioceses

• Kericho
• Kitui
• Machakos
• Nakuru
• Ngong
• Wote

Sources

• GCatholic.org

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Notes and References

1. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmccjj.html Archbishop John Joseph McCarthy
2. Web site: Pope Francis picks Archbishop Philip Anyolo to head Nairobi Catholic Church. 28 October 2021.
3. Web site: Resignations and Appointments . 2024-02-14 . press.vatican.va.
4. Web site: Rev. Wallace Ng'ang'a Gachihi installed as Bishop of Kenya's Military Ordinariate . 12 October 2024 . Citizen Digital . Joe Mwirigi . 1 December 2024 . Nairobi, Kenya.