Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nairobi, Kenya 🇰🇪

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese , Primatial See of Kenya

Name: Nairobi / Nairobien(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Kericho, Kitui, Machakos, Nakuru, Ngong, Wote

Neighbouring Dioceses: Nakuru (↖), Murang’a (↑), Machakos (↘), Ngong (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1953.03.25: Established as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nairobi / Nairobien(sis) (Latin) (from the suppressed Apostolic Vicariate of Zanzibar and with suffragan sees Kisumu and Nyeri)
1953.05.07: Gained suffragan see Meru
1955.05.08: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Mombasa and Zanzibar and gained suffragan see Mombasa and Zanzibar
1956.02.20: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Kitui
1959.10.13: Gained suffragan see Eldoret
1959.10.20: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Ngong
1960.05.21: Gained suffragan see Kisii
1963.11.16: Gained suffragan see Kitui
1964.11.25: Gained suffragan see Marsabit
1968.01.11: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Nakuru and gained suffragan see Nakuru
1969.05.29: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Machakos and gained suffragan see Machakos
1976.12.09: Gained suffragan see Ngong
1978.01.30: Gained suffragan see Lodwar
1978.02.27: Gained suffragan see Kakamega
1983.03.17: Gained suffragan see Murang’a
1984.02.03: Gained suffragan see Garissa
1986.06.09: Gained suffragan see Embu
1987.04.27: Gained suffragan see Bungoma
1990.05.21: Lost suffragan sees Bungoma, Eldoret, Embu, Garissa, Kakamega, Kisii, Kisumu, Lodwar, Marsabit, Meru, Mombasa, Murang’a and Nyeri
1995.12.06: Gained suffragan see Kericho
2023.07.22: Gained suffragan see Wote

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1980.05, 1985.08, 1995.09)
Pope Francis (2015.11)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2021.10.28 – ...):	Archbishop Philip Arnold Subira Anyolo (69)
Auxiliary Bishop (1999.12.22 – ...):	Bishop David Kamau Ng’ang’a (70) Titular Bishop of Oëa
Auxiliary Bishop (2026.03.26 – ...):	Bishop-elect Obed Muriungi Karobia, O.F.M. Conv. (46) Titular Bishop of Thimida

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Nairobi (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Philip Arnold Subira Anyolo (69)
(2021.10.28 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Nairobi (Kenya)

Manete in me et ego in vobis

Born:	1956.05.18 (Tongaren, Kenya)
Ordained Priest:	1983.10.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1996.02.03

Priest of Eldoret (Kenya) (1983.10.15 – 1995.12.06)

Bishop of Kericho (Kenya) (1995.12.06 – 2003.03.22)

Apostolic Administrator of Homa Bay (Kenya) (2002.02.20 – 2003.03.22)

Bishop of Homa Bay (Kenya) (2003.03.22 – 2018.11.15)

President of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (2015 – 2021.07)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Kisumu (Kenya) (2018.11.15 – 2021.10.28)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Nairobi (Kenya) (2021.10.28 – ...)

Bishop David Kamau Ng’ang’a (70)
(Apostolic Administrator 2021.01.04 – 2021.10.28)

Cardinal John Njue (80)
(2007.10.06 – 2021.01.04)

Cardinal-Priest of Preziosissimo Sangue di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo
Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Nairobi (Kenya)

In veritate Testimonium in caritate servitium

Born:	1946.01.01 (Embu, Kenya)
Ordained Priest:	1973.01.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1986.09.20
Created Cardinal:	2007.11.24

Priest of Meru (Kenya) (1973.01.06 – 1986.06.09)

Bishop of Embu (Kenya) (1986.06.09 – 2002.03.09)

President of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (1997 – 2003)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Nyeri (Kenya) (2002.03.09 – 2007.10.06)

Apostolic Administrator of Isiolo (Kenya) (2005 – 2006.01.25)

President of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (2006 – 2015)

Apostolic Administrator of Murang’a (Kenya) (2006.11 – 2009.04.04)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Nairobi (Kenya) (2007.10.06 – 2021.01.04)

Cardinal-Priest of Preziosissimo Sangue di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo (2007.11.24 [2008.02.17] – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Nyeri (Kenya) (2007.12 – 2008.04.19)

Archbishop Raphael S. Ndingi Mwana’a Nzeki
(1997.04.21 – 2007.10.06)

Born:	1931.12.25 (Mwala, Kenya)
Ordained Priest:	1961.01.31
Consecrated Bishop:	1969.08.01
Died:	2020.03.31 (Nairobi, Kenya † 88)

Bishop of Machakos (Kenya) (1969.05.29 – 1971.08.30)

Bishop of Nakuru (Kenya) (1971.08.30 – 1996.06.14)

President of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (1982 – 1988)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Nairobi (Kenya) (1996.06.14 – 1997.04.21)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Nairobi (Kenya) (1997.04.21 – 2007.10.06)

Cardinal Maurice Michael Otunga
(1971.10.24 – 1997.04.21)

Per ipsum et cum ipso et in ipso

Born:	1923.01 (Chebukwa, Kenya)
Ordained Priest:	1950.10.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1957.02.25
Created Cardinal:	1973.03.05
Died:	2003.09.06 (Nairobi, Kenya † 80)

Priest of Kisumu (Kenya) (1950.10.03 – 1956.11.17)

Titular Bishop of Tacapæ (1956.11.17 – 1960.05.21)

Auxiliary Bishop of Kisumu (Kenya) (1956.11.17 – 1960.05.21)

Bishop of Kisii (Kenya) (1960.05.21 – 1969.11.15)

Military Vicar of Kenya (Kenya) (1964.01.20 – 1986.07.21)

Titular Archbishop of Bomarzo (1969.11.15 – 1971.10.24)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Nairobi (Kenya) (1969.11.15 – 1971.10.24)

President of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (1970 – 1976)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Nairobi (Kenya) (1971.10.24 – 1997.04.21)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Gregorio Barbarigo alle Tre Fontane (1973.03.05 – 2003.09.06)

Military Ordinary of Kenya (Kenya) (1986.07.21 – 1997.08.29)

Archbishop John Joseph McCarthy, C.S.Sp.
(1953.03.25 – 1971.10.24)

Born:	1896.04.27 (Miltown Malbay, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1925.06.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1946.10.27
Died:	1983.01.13 (Dublin, Ireland † 86)

Titular Bishop of Cercina (1946.07.11 – 1953.03.25)

Vicar Apostolic of Zanzibar (Tanzania) (1946.07.11 – 1953.03.25)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Nairobi (Kenya) (1953.03.25 – 1971.10.24)

President of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (1969 – 1970)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Maurice Michael Otunga (later Cardinal) (1969.11.15 – 1971.10.24)
Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Raphael S. Ndingi Mwana’a Nzeki (1996.06.14 – 1997.04.21)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Simon Peter Kamomoe (63) (2024.02.13 – 2025.07.05)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Wallace Ng’ang’a Gachihi (53) (2024.02.13 – 2024.08.15)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Anthony Ireri Mukobo, I.M.C. (76) (1999.12.22 – 2006.01.25)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Alfred Kipkoech Arap Rotich (68) (1996.03.09 – 1997.08.29)