Pope picks Bishop Crowley to oversee Eldoret diocese

Kitale Catholic Diocese Bishop Maurice Crowley who has been appointed the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Eldoret. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Machakos Diocese has had an apostolic administrator for three years.
  • The development follows the death two weeks ago of Bishop Cornelius Korir in Eldoret after a short illness.

Kitale Catholic Diocese Bishop Maurice Crowley has been appointed the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Eldoret.

Bishop Crowley will head Eldoret in an acting capacity until Pope Francis appoints a substantive bishop.

“This appointment is very important and the announcement is supposed to come from the Pope’s assistant,” said Father William Kemboi, the vicar-general of Uasin Gishu. “The bishop came today to meet with the staff and familiarise with the diocese.”

The vicar told the Nation that searching for a new bishop takes time, adding: “It can take a short time or a year.”

DIOCESE

Machakos Diocese has had an apostolic administrator for three years.

Fr Kemboi added that the Eldoret diocese was happy to receive Bishop Crowley.

“The church is very clear on the appointments; ours is to receive him and thank God,” Fr Kemboi explained when asked who would be preferred to be bishop. “We are not part of discussions on who should been appointed.”

The development follows the death two weeks ago of Bishop Cornelius Korir in Eldoret after a short illness.

He had been receiving treatment at St Luke’s Hospital, Eldoret, but died upon arrival at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital on the morning of October 30.

Bishop Korir was among church leaders in the North Rift who have been warning political leaders against utterances that might divide Kenyans along tribal lines.

Bishop Crowley, 71, was born on May 11, 1946 at Berrings, County Cork, in the Diocese of Cloyne, Ireland.

Ordained priest at 26 in 1972, he was appointed and consecrated Bishop of Kitale in 1998, aged 51.

He has been a priest for 45 years.