Pope Francis appoints Alfred Rotich Kericho Diocese bishop

Bishop Alfred Rotich speaks at a past event. He has been appointed to head Kericho Diocese. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Pope Francis appoints Alfred Rotich Kericho Diocese bishop

Bishop Rotich, a former head of military ordinance, was appointed on Saturday. The appointment was communicated to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops by the Pope’s representative in Kericho Archbishop Bert Van Megen. “Bishop Rotich replaces Bishop Emmanuel Okombo who has retired after attaining 75 years of age, the official retirement age for bishops,” stated Archbishop Megen in the letter.

Bishop Rotich served the Kenya military before he resigned in 2016 after attaining the age of 55 years. He rose to the rank of a colonel, the highest rank a religious person can get at the military. He becomes the third Bishop of Kericho Diocese. Bishop Philip Anyolo, the current bishop of Kisumu, was the first bishop of the diocese.

Bishop Rotich was born in July, 27, 1957 at Tegat village of Bomet County. He was ordained as a priest on November,18, 1983 by Bishop (retired) Ndingi Mwana A’Nzeki and appointed military bishop on August 29, 1997.Daily Nation.