President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga presided over the award of a charter to Uzima University on May 8, 2025. Most Reverend Zacchaeus Okoth founded the institution in 2012.
It began its academic journey on August 27, 2012, by admitting its first cohort of 21 students pursuing degrees in Medicine, Surgery, and Nursing.
Archbishop Okoth was moved by the pain and the challenges experienced by the populace in the region.
He decided to invest in a medical Education and research enterprise that would address the dire need for the provision of medical services and expertise in Africa.
Education
Archbishop Okoth earned a Diploma in Philosophy and Letters (DPL) from St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Nairobi in 1968.
He went for further studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he obtained a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (STB) in 1969 and a Licentiate of Sacred Theology in 1971
Rev. Zacchaeus Okoth’s Career
He was a lecturer at St. Thomas A. Seminary between 1971 and 1974.
He also served as the Dean of Philosophy/Theology during this period.
Between 1972 and 1973, Okotj was a lecturer in African religion at the University of Nairobi.
He was also the rector of St. Augustine Seminary in Bungoma.
In 1978, he was appointed Bishop of Kisumu and became Archbishop in 1990 when the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese
Additionally, he was the Chairman development department Kenya Catholic Secretariat from 1979 to 1981.
He has been the President, chairman Kenya Episcopal Conference since 1991.
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Other Achievements
Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth was ordained priest of Kisumu in 1968 and became bishop elect in February 1978. And in April of the same year, he was consecrated bishop.
He has initiated projects that saw him pioneer dozens of schools, some named after him, such as Bishop Okoth Girls School – Mbaga in Siaya county.
Others are Bishop Okoth Ojolla Secondary School in Kisumu and Bishop Okoth Miranga in Seme Sub-County.
He is also behind St Mary’s Lwak Girls, St Francis Rang’ala Girls and St Oda Aluor Girls.
Some of these schools have a long history of exemplary performance in national exams.
On health, he is feted for his role in the management of HIV-Aids.
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Growth in Kisumu and Its Environs
The Archdiocese of Kisumu has witnessed tremendous growth in terms of faith and other social developments.
This has extended to its seven Suffragan Dioceses, including Bungoma, Eldoret, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisii, Kitale and Lodwar.
There are about 2,649 primary schools, 700 secondary schools in the whole Metropolis.
It also has 40 middle-level colleges, polytechnics and other institutions sponsored by the Church.
The Metropolitan See also has approximately 320 hospitals and dispensaries serving its population, which is about 18 million people.
In Kisumu alone, there are 250 secondary schools, 1,020 primary schools, 53 hospitals and dispensaries.
The Lake City also has 15 polytechnics, 20 Special Education centres, including small homes for the disabled.
Politics Roles
Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth earned a seat at the 14-member Building Bridges to Unity Advisory Task Force.
The team was handling the nine-point peace agenda of the March 9, 2018, handshake of then-President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga.
His campaign for peace during the National Prayer Day on October 6, 2017, likely drove his inclusion in the Task Force.
President Uhuru attended the event held at the Village of Mary National Shrine in Subukia, Nakuru County.
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