KENYAN BISHOPS AND THEIR AGES AT TIME OF THEIR RESPECTIVE EPISCOPAL ORDINATION

FOR HISTORICAL INTEREST: AGES AT EPISCOPAL ORDINATION OF BISHOPS IN KENYA

1) 34.0 – Maurice Michael Otunga
2) 35.0 – Philip Sulumeti
3) 35.8 – Zacchaeus Okoth
4) 36.7 – Filippo Perlo, I.M.C.
5) 37.6 – Raphael Ndingi Mwana a’ Nzeki
6) 38.6 – Charles (Carlo) Maria Cavallera, I.M.C.
7) 38.6 – Carlo Re, I.M.C.
8) 38.9 – Alfred Kipkoech Arap Rotich
9) 39.5 – Emilio (Emile) Njeru
10) 39.5 – Giuseppe Perrachon, I.M.C.
11) 39.7 – Philip Arnold Subira Anyolo
12) 39.9 – Cornelius Kipng’eno Arap Korir
13) 40.0 – Caesar Gatimu
14) 40.6 – Anthony Muheria
15) 40.7 – John Njue
16) 41.0 – Joseph Mairura Okemwa
17) 41.1 – Linus Okok Okwach
18) 41.7 – Maurice Muhatia Makumba
19) 41.8 – Joseph Ndembu Mbatia
20) 41.9 – Peter Joseph Kairo
21) 41.9 – John Njenga
22) 42.1 – Nicodemus Kirima
23) 42.6 – Jean-Marie-Raoul Le Bas de Courmont, C.S.Sp.
24) 43.5 – Paul Darmanin, O.F.M. Cap.
25) 43.6 – William Dunne, S.P.S.
26) 45.2 – David Kamau Ng’ang’a
27) 45.4 – Urbanus Joseph Kioko
28) 45.5 – Frederick Hall, M.H.M.
29) 45.5 – Peter Kihara Kariuki, I.M.C.
30) 46.1 – Henry Juma Odonya
31) 46.3 – Paul Kariuki Njiru
32) 46.6 – Norman King’oo Wambua
33) 46.7 – Vincent Ouma Odundo
34) 47.2 – Silas Silvius Njiru
35) 47.3 – George Muthaka, O.F.M. Cap.
36) 47.4 – Tiberius Charles Mugendi
37) 48.1 – Joseph Obanyi Sagwe
38) 48.8 – Boniface Lele
39) 48.9 – Peter Munguti Makau, I.M.C.
40) 49.0 – Dominic Kimengich
41) 49.0 – John Mbinda
42) 49.1 – Joseph Brendan Houlihan, S.P.S.
43) 49.8 – Lorenzo (Lawrence Victor) Bessone, I.M.C.
44) 50.4 – Anthony Ireri Mukobo, I.M.C.
45) 50.5 – John Joseph McCarthy, C.S.Sp.
46) 50.9 – Salesius Mugambi
47) 51.0 – Wallace Ng’ang’a Gachihi
48) 51.3 – Martin Kivuva Musonde
49) 51.5 – Longinus Atundo
50) 52.2 – Maurice Anthony Crowley, S.P.S.
51) 52.3 – Joseph Maluki Mwongela
52) 52.5 – James Maria Wainaina Kungu
53) 52.6 – Ambrogio Ravasi, I.M.C.
54) 52.7 – Colin Cameron Davies, M.H.M.
55) 53.6 – John Oballa Owaa
56) 54.7 – Jackson Murugara, I.M.C.
57) 54.9 – John Gerald Neville, C.S.Sp.
58) 55.0 – John Christopher Mahon
59) 55.4 – Cleophas Oseso Tuka
60) 55.5 – Virgilio Pante
61) 56.5 – Eugene Joseph Butler, C.S.Sp.
62) 57.5 – Hieronymus Emusugut Joya, I.M.C.
63) 57.7 – Peter Kimani Ndung’u
64) 57.8 – Mark Kadima Wamukoya
65) 58.2 – Michael Cornelius Otieno Odiwa
66) 59.3 – Gorgon Gregory Brandsma, M.H.M.
67) 59.4 – Nicolas Stam, M.H.M.
68) 60.4 – Emmanuel Okombo
69) 60.5 – Patrick Joseph Harrington, S.M.A.
70) 61.3 – Joannes de Reeper, M.H.M.
71) 61.3 – Simon Peter Kamomoe
72) 61.3 – Cornelius Schilder, M.H.M.
73) 61.9 – Emanuel Barbara, O.F.M. Cap.
74) 62.9 – Willybard Kitogho Lagho
75) 64.1 – Francis Baldacchino, O.F.M. Cap.
76) 65.7 – John Kiplimo Lelei
77) 67.5 – Luigi Locati
78) 67.8 – Joseph Alessandro, O.F.M. Cap.
79) 68.5 – Luigi Paiaro

Explanatory Notes:

✓The ages indicated refer to the age at the time of episcopal ordination and not the current age nor the age at the time of appointment (a bishop-elect is ordinarily required to receive episcopal ordination within three months of receiving the apostolic letters, in accordance with canon 379 of the Code of Canon Law); the year of appointment has therefore not been considered.
✓The list includes only bishops, both residential (diocesan) and titular, such as auxiliary bishops and Apostolic Vicars. It comprises bishops who are currently serving, retired and deceased. Ordinaries who were not consecrated bishops are excluded.
✓It also includes bishops who served in Kenya prior to 1953, that is, before the establishment of the ecclesiastical hierarchy in Kenya.
✓The data has been compiled from verified public and published sources and is presented for historical interest. The list does not imply any hierarchy, ranking or precedence.
✓ The bishops, as successors of the Apostles, are called to the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders. Just as Jesus called the Apostles at different stages of their lives, so too a priest may be called to this office of greater pastoral responsibility and service at different moments of his priestly ministry.
✓I have re-edited and updated this list several times to highlight a number of omissions that I had not foreseen. Everyone is free to copy and use it, but please remember to check for the latest updates.

(Latest Update on 27-12-2025 11:40am Rome Time)