Kenyan Roman Catholic prelate
Philip Sulumeti (born 15 August 1937) is a Kenyan prelate of the Catholic Church who is the Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Kakamega since 5 December 2014. He served as the ordinary of the Diocese of Kakamega since his appointment as the founder bishop on 28 February 1978. Before that he was the ordinary of the Diocese of Kisumu from 1976 until 1978 when he was transferred to Kakamega. He served as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kisumu from 1972 until 1976. He retired on 5 December 2014.
Early life and education.
He was born on 15 August 1937 in Kobur Village, Busia District in the Diocese of Bungoma. He attended primary school in his home area. He studied in seminaries in East Africa before he went to Rome, for further studies. He graduated from the "St. Peter's Pontifical College, Rome", with a Licentiate and a Doctorate in Canon Law.
Priest.
He was ordained priest on 6 January 1966 at Kisumu by Pope Paul VI. He served as priest for the Diocese of Kisumu until 28 May 1972, when he was appointed simultaneously as Auxiliary Bishop of Kisumu, Kenya and as Titular Bishop of Urci.
Bishop.
On 28 May 1972 Pope Paul VI appointed him simultaneously as auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Kisumu and as Titular Bishop of Urci. He was consecrated bishop and installed by Archbishop Cardinal Laurean Rugambwa, Archbishop of Dar es Salaam assisted by Archbishop Maurice Michael Otunga, Archbishop of Nairobi and Bishop Joannes de Reeper, Bishop of Kisumu. Following the retirement of Bishop Joannes de Reeper on 20 March 1976, Bishop Sulumeti was appointed as his replacement and he served as Bishop of Kisumu until 28 February 1978, when he was appointed Bishop of Kakamega.
He was appointed as the pioneer bishop of Kakamega on 28 February 1978, the same day Kisumu Diocese was split to create the new Diocese of Kakamega. He served in that capacity until 5 December 2014 when his third application for retirement was approved by Pope Francis, based on the bishop's age. Two earlier applications on medical grounds had been turned down by Pope John Paul II in 1994 and by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. On his retirement day, his successor Bishop Joseph Obanyi Sagwe was consecrated and installed as the new ordinary for Kakamega Diocese.
Other considerations.
Bishop Philip Sulumeti is credited with spearheading the national constitutional review process in 2006. Due to his non-partisan stance and considerable legal expertise, he was able to moderate many contentious clauses in the document.
References.
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