Kenyan Archbishop Appeals for Prayers ahead of Auxiliary Bishop’s Episcopal Ordination

Kisumu, 02 February, 2026 / 4:56 PM

The Archbishop of Kenya’s Catholic Archdiocese of Kisumu has called for spiritual solidarity with the newly appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Metropolitan See as he prepares for his Episcopal Ordination scheduled for February 27.

Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba made the appeal in his homily on Monday February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord describing the appointment of Mons. Vincent Odundo as one of the of the special gifts of the recently concluded  Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year. 

“Let us pray for Monsignor as he prepares for ordination, that God may bless him in his service to the people of God. That service to the people of God in the Archdiocese of Kisumu may come even closer,” Archbishop Muhatia said during the annual Archdiocesan event for the women and men Religious that was held at St. Theresa’s Cathedral.

Archbishop Muhatia,  who serves as Chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) explained that growing pastoral needs of the vast Metropolitan See necessitated the appointment of the Auxiliary Bishop who has been serving as Vicar General of the Kisumu Archdiocese and Parish Priest of St. James the Apostle Magadi.

He said, “An auxiliary Bishop is appointed when there are pastoral needs. Certainly in the Archdiocese of Kisumu, there are pastoral needs for an auxiliary Bishop.”

“The Archdiocese is large, pastorally very busy, and for all intents and purposes, one bishop cannot meet all its pastoral demands. That is my judgment,” the Archbishop who has served in Kisumu since his installation in March 2022 said, noting that it was in response to these pastoral needs that “the Holy Father has given us an auxiliary Bishop.”

The 57-year-old Kenyan Catholic Church leader who began his Episcopal ministry in February 2010 explained that it was not the first time his Metropolitan See was receiving an auxiliary Bishop.

He recalled that the Archdiocese’s first auxiliary Bishop was Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga, who served alongside Bishop Frederick Hall, and later Bishop Philip Sulamenti, who served under Bishop Joannes de Reeper.

“The Archdiocese is not new to having auxiliary Bishops. They have served in the past. Now we are receiving the third auxiliary Bishop,” Archbishop Muhatia said, and added, “May God bless him in his service to the people of God, and may his ministry in the Archdiocese of Kisumu strengthen pastoral care and governance.”

When Consecrated Bishop, Mons. Odundo will assist the Local Ordinary Archbishop in shepherding the people of God in the Kenyan Metropolitan See with some 2.1 million Catholics spread across 63 Parishes, according to 2024 Vatican statistics.

Born on 1 June 1978 in the Archdiocese Kisumu, the Bishop-elect studied philosophy at St. Augustine’s Mabanga National Seminary and theology at St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi. He was ordained a priest in February 2008 for the Archdiocese of Kisumu.

Following his Priestly Ordination, Mons. Odundo served as Parish Vicar at St. Theresa’s Cathedral of Kisumu Archdiocese (2008–2009), Administrator of St. Augustine’s Nyamonye Parish of Kisumu Archdiocese (2009–2012), and Parish Priest of Holy Cross Siaya Parish of the Archdiocese of Kisumu (2012–2013).

He later pursued further studies in Canon Law in Rome, obtaining a Licentiate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Urbaniana University and a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Lateran University.

On his return to Kenya in the Archdiocese of Kisumu, he served in various capacities, including Administrator of St. Andrew Bondo Parish (2018–2019) and Promoter of Justice of the Interdiocesan Tribunal of Kisumu (2018–2020).

He was later appointed Chancellor and Judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese of Kisumu, positions he held from 2019 to 2023.