Pope Leo elevates Eldoret to archdiocese, names Joseph Obanyi first archbishop

On Saturday, November 14th 2026, Pope Leo XIV established the Metropolitan Province of Eldoret and appointed Bishop Joseph Obanyi Sagwe as its first Metropolitan Archbishop. This significant appointment was announced through an official notification to the Bishops of Kenya, delivered by the Chargé d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Kenya. The new province will encompass the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Eldoret and four suffragan dioceses: Lodwar, Kapsabet, Kitale, and Kericho.

Bishop Obanyi’s appointment follows his tenure as Apostolic Administrator of Eldoret, bridging the gap between the incumbent Archbishop Dominic Kimengich’s appointment as Coadjutor Archbishop of Mombasa and his subsequent elevation to the Mombasa see. His service as Apostolic Administrator of Eldoret involved providing both pastoral and administrative guidance to the diocese during the transition.

As the first Metropolitan Archbishop of Eldoret, Bishop Obanyi assumes responsibility for the pastoral leadership of the Archdiocese and the fostering of communion among the four suffragan dioceses. Born in 1967 in Kebiro, Kenya, he pursued his philosophical studies at St. Augustine Major Seminary, Mabanga, and later earned his Theology degree at St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, Nairobi.

Ordained a priest on October 25, 1996, Bishop Obanyi’s episcopal journey has been marked by roles such as Parish Vicar, Diocesan Coordinator for Pastoral Care, and Parish Priest of St. Charles Lwanga Cathedral Parish, Kisii. He also served as Vicar General of the Diocese of Kisii and was appointed Bishop of Kakamega by Pope Francis on December 5, 2014. His extensive experience and pastoral background make him well-suited to lead the newly established ecclesiastical province under the Metropolitan Province of Eldoret.