This archive report was first published on 14 December 2019.
On December 14, 2019, Pope Francis made a significant appointment in the Catholic Church in Kenya, naming Alfred Kipkoech Rotich as the new bishop of Kericho Diocese.
Bishop Rotich, a former head of military ordinance, brings a unique blend of military and spiritual experience to his new role.
According to Archbishop Bert Van Megen, the Pope's representative in Kericho, Bishop Rotich replaces Bishop Emmanuel Okombo who has retired after attaining 75 years of age, the official retirement age for bishops.
Bishop Rotich has a distinguished military career, having served in the Kenya military before resigning in 2016 after attaining the age of 55 years. He rose to the rank of colonel, the highest rank a religious person can get at the military.
He becomes the third Bishop of Kericho Diocese, following in the footsteps of Bishop Philip Anyolo, the current bishop of Kisumu, who was the first bishop of the diocese.
Born in Tegat village of Bomet County in July 1957, Bishop Rotich was ordained as a priest on November 18, 1983, by Bishop (retired) Ndingi Mwana A'Nzeki and appointed military bishop on August 29, 1997.
