Pope Francis appoints Father Michael Odiwa as Bishop of Homa Bay

The Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed 58-year-old Rev Father Michael Odiwa as the Bishop of Homabay Diocese.

According to a statement seen by Standard Digital, Bishop-Elect Michael Odiwa’s appointment was officially made public November 29, 2020, in Rome.

The letter of his appointment was sent to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) by the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, His Excellency Archbishop Hubertus van Megen.

Bishop-Elect Odiwa (pictured) will replace Most Rev Philip Anyolo who was transferred by the Pontiff to the Archdiocese of Kisumu on November 15, 2018.

Anyolo has been serving as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Homa Bay since then.

Bishop-Elect Odiwa is currently working in the Archdiocese of Adelaide in Australia as an assistant Parish Priest and in-charge of Italian speaking community of the Annunciation Church Hectorville Parish.

He is also working defender of Bond Tribunal of the province of Adelaide, South Australia and Northern Territories.

Odiwa served as a Vicar General of Homa Bay Diocese and the Parish Priest of the Homa Bay Cathedral.

He has also worked in Asumbi, St John’s Seminary Rakwaro, Ang’iya and Nyalieng’a parishes.

Odiwa was born on November 11, 1962, in Sori, Karungu and baptised in 1963 at Migori Parish.

He was ordained a Deacon on May 17, 1992, and ordained a Priest for the Catholic Diocese of Homa Bay on July 3, 1993.

He studied Doctorate in Canon Law from Urbaniana University, Rome between 2000 and 2005.

Odiwa also studied Spirituality at St. John’s Senior Seminary Molo 1986, Philosophy at St Augustine’s Senior Seminary Mabanga from 1987 to 1988 and Theology at St Matthias Mulumba Kalemba Tindinyo from 1989 to 1992.