Pope Leo has appointed Bishop Simon Peter Kamomoe as the new auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Wote.
In a statement by Archdiocese of Nairobi Bishop Kamomoe, 62, currently serves as auxiliary bishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nairobi.
His new appointment places him alongside Bishop Paul Kariuki Njiru in leading the young Wote Diocese, which was established by the late Pope Francis on July 22, 2023.
Born on November 26, 1962, in Gatundu, Kiambu County, Kamomoe was ordained a priest on June 18, 1994.
He received his priestly training at Saint Mary’s Major Seminary in Molo and continued his philosophical and theological studies at Saint Augustine’s Senior Seminary in Mabanga and Saint Matthias Mulumba Senior Seminary in Tindinyo.
Career of Bishop Kamomoe
Over the past three decades, Kamomoe has served in a range of pastoral and administrative roles across Kenya.
His early assignments included posts at Queen of Apostles Junior Seminary and parishes in Thigio, Mang’u, Ndundu, and Thika.
Also Read: Ruto Faces Legal Action Over Ksh1.2 Billion Church at State House
He later served as parish priest in Kiriko and Kiambu and held key leadership roles including vicar forane and member of the College of Consultors.
Since 2008, Kamomoe has been the administrator of the Minor Basilica of the Holy Family in Nairobi and chaplain of the diocesan Family Pastoral Office.
He was appointed auxiliary bishop of Nairobi by Pope Francis on February 13, 2024, and was consecrated on April 6.
The Diocese of Wote, located in Kenya’s Makueni County, continues to take shape with Kamomoe’s appointment marking another step in its development.
Pope Leo Other Appointments
This comes barely a week after Pope Leo XIV appointed a Kenyan Catholic Bishop to a new role, months after he took over from the late Pope Francis.
The Roman Catholic Pontiff appointed Rt. Rev. Willybard Lagho, Bishop of Malindi, to the Vatican Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue (DID).
Also Read: Pope Leo Hits Ground Running, Declares Catholic Church Stand on Marriage
The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) Catholic Justice and Peace Department announced the appointment of Rt. Rev Lagho on Friday, July 4, in a congratulatory message.
According to the Holy See, the DID promotes and supervises relations with members and groups of non-Christian religions, except Judaism.
“The Catholic Justice and Peace Department congratulates Rt. Rev. Willybard Lagho, Bishop of Malindi, on his appointment by Pope Leo to the Vatican Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. A shepherd of peace, dialogue, and understanding. Your witness inspires our mission,” the department said.
Bishop Lagho, the current Bishop of Malindi, was born on March 23, 1958, in Taita-Taveta.
He currently serves as the chairperson of the Commission for Inter-religious Dialogue and Ecumenism (CIRDE) at KCCB and is the chairman of the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK), a national body that promotes harmony among Kenya’s diverse religious communities.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates