Pope Leo XIV has erected the Ecclesiastical Province of Eldoret in Kenya, elevating the See of Eldoret to a Metropolitan Church and appointing Bishop Joseph Obanyi Sagwe as its first Metropolitan Archbishop.
The Holy See Press Office announced the move on Saturday, 14 November 2026.
According to the Vatican, the new Ecclesiastical Province of Eldoret will comprise four suffragan dioceses: Lodwar, Kitale, Kericho and Kapsabet.
The Holy Father appointed Bishop Joseph Obanyi Sagwe, until now Bishop of Kakamega and currently Apostolic Administrator sede vacante of the Diocese of Eldoret, as the first Metropolitan Archbishop of Eldoret.
“The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Joseph Obanyi Sagwe, hitherto of the Diocese of Kakamega and currently apostolic administrator sede vacante of the Diocese of Eldoret, as first metropolitan archbishop of Eldoret,” part of the announcement read.
Who is Archbishop Joseph Obanyi Sagwe?
Archbishop Joseph Obanyi Sagwe was born in 1967 in Kebiro, within the Diocese of Kisii, Kenya.
Between 1990 and 1991, he studied philosophy at St Augustine Major Seminary in Mabaga. He later pursued theological studies at St Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Nairobi from 1992 to 1995.
He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Kisii on 25 October 1996 and served as a parish vicar and diocesan pastoral coordinator from 1996 to 1999.
Between 1999 and 2004, he undertook further studies at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome.
In 2004, he became parish priest of the Cathedral in the Diocese of Kisii. From 2005, he also served as Vicar General of the Diocese of Kisii.
On 5 December 2014, Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Kakamega, succeeding Bishop Philip Sulumeti after he resigned from the pastoral governance of the diocese.
Joseph was ordained bishop on 7 March 2015 and served as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Bungoma from 2018 to 2022.
On 25 April 2026, he was appointed Apostolic Administrator sede vacante of the Diocese of Eldoret following the departure of Bishop Dominic Kimengich.
Also Read: Pope Leo Appoints First Augustinian Bishop in Kenya
The New Metropolitan Province of Eldoret
Five dioceses will constitute the new Ecclesiastical Province of Eldoret: the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Eldoret and its four suffragan dioceses of Lodwar, Kitale, Kericho and Kapsabet.
“The Holy Father has erected the ecclesiastical province of Eldoret, Kenya, elevating the see of Eldoret to a metropolitan Church and assigning as suffragans the dioceses of Lodwar, Kitale, Kericho and Kapsabet,” the notice stated.
| Diocese | Date established | Area (km²) | Total population | Catholic population | Parishes | Secular priests | Religious priests | Male religious | Female religious |
| Eldoret | 13 Oct. 1959 | 6,366 | 1,750,000 | 584,000 | 70 | 99 | 22 | 53 | 211 |
| Lodwar | 30 Jan. 1978 | 77,000 | 1,277,000 | 236,000 | 31 | 17 | 49 | 62 | 124 |
| Kitale | 3 Apr. 1998 | 11,737 | 2,165,000 | 326,000 | 38 | 76 | 18 | 146 | 98 |
| Kericho | 6 Dec. 1995 | 4,109 | 1,916,000 | 305,000 | 48 | 31 | 59 | 63 | 87 |
| Kapsabet | 10 July 2025 | 2,888 | 885,711 | 313,655 | 36 | 44 | 8 | 8 | 44 |
Other Appointments Announced By Pope Leo XIV
The Holy Father announced two other appointments, including the appointment of Archbishop Waldemar Stanisław Sommertag, titular Archbishop of Maastricht, as Apostolic Nuncio to India.
Before this appointment, Waldemar served as Apostolic Nuncio in Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Cabo Verde.
The Holy Father also appointed Reverend Oswaldo Enrique Méndez Marchena, a priest of the clergy of the Archdiocese of Barquisimeto, Venezuela, as Auxiliary Bishop of the same archdiocese.
He was assigned the titular See of Altava.
Also Read: Pope Leo Appoints Kenyan Vice-Chancellor to Five-Year Vatican Role
Bishop-elect Oswaldo Enrique Méndez Marchena
Msgr. Oswaldo Enrique Méndez Marchena was born on 29 June 1967 in Boconó, in the Diocese of Trujillo, Venezuela.
He studied philosophy and theology at the Major Seminary of Barquisimeto before earning a licentiate in dogmatic theology from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome.
On 22 October 1994, Oswaldo was ordained a priest and incardinated into the Archdiocese of Barquisimeto.
After his ordination, he served as parish priest of San Antonio de Padua, San Vicente de Paul, and Sagrado Corazón parishes in Cabudare.
Oswaldo has also served as chancellor, Episcopal Vicar for Pastoral Regions Nos. 3 and 5 of the Archdiocese of Barquisimeto, serving on the Council for Economic Affairs, and serving as an assessor for youth pastoral ministry.
At the time of his appointment, he served as Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Barquisimeto, parish priest of Buen Pastor parish, member of the College of Consultors, and teacher at the Major Seminary.
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