Catholic Church in Kenya

The Catholic Church in Kenya is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Kenyan Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Pope in the Vatican City.

Zacchaeus Okoth (front right), former Archbishop of Kisumu

The earliest traces of the Catholic Church in Kenya begin with the missionaries that penetrated the state in 1498, led by Vasco da Gama. Due to regional conflict, poor transportation, and a largely nomadic presence, it became more established in northern Kenya during the twentieth century.^[1]

Demographics

According to the Catholic Church official records, there are over 18 million baptised Catholics in Kenya (nearly 40% of the country's population). According to the 2019 national housing census, 10.6 million Catholics in Kenya are strict adherents and attend Mass regularly. ^[2]

In 2020, there were over 3,644 priests working across more than 1,100 parishes.^[3]

Organization

Within Kenya the hierarchy consists of:

• Archbishopric
  • Bishopric

Kisumu Bungoma Eldoret Homa Bay Kakamega Kisii Kitale Lodwar

Mombasa Garissa Malindi

Nairobi Kericho Kitui Machakos Nakuru Ngong

Nyeri Embu Maralal Marsabit Meru Murang'a Nyahururu

Notable Catholics in Kenya

• Moody Awori, former Vice President of Kenya^[4]
• Tere at Santa Clara University^[5]
• Ngina Kenyatta, former First Lady of Kenya^[6][7]
• Uhuru Kenyatta, former President of Kenya^[8]
• Mwai Kibaki, former President of Kenya^[9]
• Patrick Ngugi Njoroge, governor of the Central Bank of Kenya.^[10][11]

See also

• Religion in Kenya
• Vicariate Apostolic of Isiolo
• List of saints from Africa