Eldoret (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Dominic Kimengich, Bishop
John Kiplimo Lelei, Auxiliary Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 13 October 1959
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Kisumu
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Kenya
Square Kilometers: 9,254 (3,574 Square Miles)
Description: Counties of Nandi, Uasin Gishu, and Elgeyo Marakwet
Official Web Site: https://www.cde.co.ke
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 842, Nyerere Rd., 30100 Eldoret, Kenya
Telephone: 722.848.367; 711.159.972

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Eldoret
- Latin Name: Eldoretensis
- Erected: 29 June 1953
- Country: Kenya

Past and Present Ordinaries

Joseph Brendan Houlihan, S.P.S. † (29 Jan 1954 Appointed - 19 Oct 1970 Resigned)
John Joseph Njenga † (19 Oct 1970 Appointed - 25 Oct 1988 Appointed, Bishop of Mombasa)
Cornelius Kipng’eno Arap Korir † (2 Apr 1990 Appointed - 30 Oct 2017 Died)
Dominic Kimengich (16 Nov 2019 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Eldoret
29 June 1953	Erected	Diocese of Kisumu (Turkana, West Suk, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Nakuru, Baringo, Elgeyo, and Mara Kwet, except Nandi)	Prefecture Apostolic of Eldoret (erected)
Diocese of Eldoret
13 October 1959	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Eldoret	Diocese of Eldoret
28 July 1965	Territory Lost	Diocese of Eldoret (Western part of Nyandarua)	Diocese of Nyeri
11 January 1968	Territory Lost	Diocese of Eldoret (Turkana)	Prefecture Apostolic of Lodwar (erected)
11 January 1968	Territory Lost	Diocese of Eldoret Diocese of Kisumu Archdiocese of Nairobi	Diocese of Nakuru (erected) (Districts of Nakuru and Kericho)
28 June 1972	Territory Added	Diocese of Nakuru (Baringo)	Diocese of Eldoret
20 January 1976	Territory Added	Diocese of Kisumu (Nandi (except Tindinyo Compound))	Diocese of Eldoret
27 April 1987	Territory Lost	Diocese of Eldoret (Tongaren) Diocese of Kakamega (Bungoma and Busia)	Diocese of Bungoma (erected)
21 May 1990	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Eldoret (from Nairobi)
3 April 1998	Territory Lost	Diocese of Eldoret (Trans Nzoia and West Pokot)	Diocese of Kitale (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Eldoret

1970 107,160 1,150,000 9.3% 25 25 50 2,143 35 24 12 ap1971

1980 188,000 2,415,000 7.8% 13 52 65 2,892 64 104 35 ap1981

1990 399,200 2,526,000 15.8% 36 37 73 5,468 52 217 40 ap1991

1999 300,000 1,278,465 23.5% 39 19 58 5,172 35 146 35 ap2000

2000 341,000 1,482,000 23.0% 38 15 53 6,433 37 150 35 ap2001

2001 351,000 1,485,950 23.6% 40 14 54 6,500 36 164 36 ap2002

2002 355,000 1,490,340 23.8% 48 14 62 5,725 36 167 36 ap2003

2003 367,200 1,530,000 24.0% 49 13 62 5,922 36 179 37 ap2004

2004 375,965 1,560,600 24.1% 56 13 69 5,448 39 178 37 ap2005

2006 401,703 1,623,648 24.7% 53 13 66 6,086 36 213 39 ap2007

2013 537,000 1,926,000 27.9% 80 13 93 5,774 30 211 45 ap2014

2016 510,000 2,206,000 23.1% 90 18 108 4,722 33 218 55 ap2017

2019 892,000 2,450,000 36.4% 109 18 127 7,023 38 243 61 ap2020

2021 892,000 2,489,710 35.8% 119 20 139 6,417 43 235 66 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Eldoret
1970	107,160	1,150,000	9.3%	25	25	50	2,143	35	24	12	ap1971
1980	188,000	2,415,000	7.8%	13	52	65	2,892	64	104	35	ap1981
1990	399,200	2,526,000	15.8%	36	37	73	5,468	52	217	40	ap1991
1999	300,000	1,278,465	23.5%	39	19	58	5,172	35	146	35	ap2000
2000	341,000	1,482,000	23.0%	38	15	53	6,433	37	150	35	ap2001
2001	351,000	1,485,950	23.6%	40	14	54	6,500	36	164	36	ap2002
2002	355,000	1,490,340	23.8%	48	14	62	5,725	36	167	36	ap2003
2003	367,200	1,530,000	24.0%	49	13	62	5,922	36	179	37	ap2004
2004	375,965	1,560,600	24.1%	56	13	69	5,448	39	178	37	ap2005
2006	401,703	1,623,648	24.7%	53	13	66	6,086	36	213	39	ap2007
2013	537,000	1,926,000	27.9%	80	13	93	5,774	30	211	45	ap2014
2016	510,000	2,206,000	23.1%	90	18	108	4,722	33	218	55	ap2017
2019	892,000	2,450,000	36.4%	109	18	127	7,023	38	243	61	ap2020
2021	892,000	2,489,710	35.8%	119	20	139	6,417	43	235	66	ap2022

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Philip Arnold Subira Anyolo (Deacon: 1982; Priest: 15 Oct 1983 to 6 Dec 1995)
Maurice Anthony Crowley, S.P.S. (Apostolic Administrator: 22 Nov 2017 to 1 Feb 2020)
Dominic Kimengich (Bishop: 16 Nov 2019 - )
John Kiplimo Lelei (Priest: 26 Oct 1985; Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Mar 2024)
Henry Juma Odonya (Deacon: 11 Jun 2005; Priest: 25 Feb 2006 to 4 Nov 2022)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Cornelius Kipng’eno Arap Korir † (Bishop: 2 Apr 1990 to 30 Oct 2017)
Joseph Brendan Houlihan, S.P.S. † (Prefect: 29 Jan 1954; Bishop: 19 Jul 1960 to 19 Oct 1970)
John Joseph Njenga † (Bishop: 19 Oct 1970 to 25 Oct 1988)
Emile Njeru † (Auxiliary Bishop: 22 May 1969 to 5 Sep 1970)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Eldoret
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 46, Page 241, to Page 243
Diocese of Eldoret
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 52, Page 129, to Page 131
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 68, Page 156
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 82, Page 937

About Catholic-Hierarchy

Terminology/Site Help

Copyright David M. Cheney, 1996-2024
Code: web_d, v3.4.8, 30 Jun 2024; Data: 20 Aug 2024

✠

Diocese of Eldoret

Dioecesis Eldoretensis