I will serve you all, new Catholic bishop vows

Bishop Dominic Kimengich kisses the ground at Moi’s Bridge trading centre, in Uasin Gishu County, yesterday. [Peter Ochieng, Standard]

Newly appointed Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret, Dominic Kimengich yesterday made a grand entry into Eldoret town ahead of his installation today.

Bishop Kimengich arrived in his new station after he was officially handed over to the Diocese from Turkana where he has worked as Bishop of Lodwar dioceses since 2011.

He will fill the vacancy left by the late Bishop Cornelius Korir, who died on October 30, 2017.

The installation is, according to church officials, expected to be witnessed by the country’s top leadership and at least 10,000 Catholic faithful at the Mother of Apostles Seminary in Eldoret.

Yesterday, the Bishop was welcomed to Eldoret diocese at Moi’s Bridge on the border of Trans Nzoia - (Kitale diocese), Uasin Gishu and Kakamega counties where a ceremony marked by prayers, song and dance and witnessed by Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok, Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu) and Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo Marakwet).

Soy MP Caleb Kositany, Cornelly Serem (Aldai) and Senator Professor Margaret Kamar (Uasin Gishu) also witnessed the grand arrival.

The entry brought business to a standstill as locals stood by the roadside to wave at the Bishop.

Bishopric calling

Bishop Kimengich told Eldoret Catholic diocese that he was ready to serve in the bishopric calling.

“The church will not discriminate anybody. We will work with everybody so that the church moves forward.

“I thank the people of Lodwar for welcoming and working with me in peace efforts when I served in Turkana,” the cleric said.

Bishop Kimengich was accompanied by Kitale Catholic Diocese Bishop Maurice Crowley, who has been doubling up as Bishop of Eldoret.  

The new Bishop kissed the soil to symbolise humility and readiness to serve the diocese.

He was later received at St Teresa Moi’s Bridge Catholic Church before being escorted in a convoy of more than 100 cars and at least 20 buses to Eldoret town.

Today, Bishop Kimengich will undergo what the Catholic church calls rites of installation.

Diocese of Eldoret Vicar General Father Willaim Kosgei said the elaborate ceremony will begin by the new Bishop being offered a crucifix, which is a symbol of sacrifice and atonement.

Fr Kosgei said the Bishop will also respond to a request to be installed before his letter of appointment, signed by Pope Francis.

“The Pope’s letter of appointment is written in Latin, but will be read out in English and Kiswahili so that the audience can understand its contents,” Fr Kosgei said.

He added: “The new Bishop will then receive an apostolic staff to symbolise his readiness to become a shepherd in the diocese.

He will then sit on the Bishop’s seat, an indication that he has taken over leadership.”

The vicar general said elders from the North Rift region will also conduct a traditional coronation during today’s installation.

Governor Nanok said he was initially opposed to the Bishop’s transfer because of his role in uniting warring communities in Turkana. “I did not want Bishop Kimengich to leave but we have accepted the Pope’s decision. We thank him for the work he did in Turkana,” said Nanok.

Governors Mandago and Tolgos urged the new Bishop to pray for Kenyan politicians.