Undaunted by Herculean task ahead, Archbishop Anyolo dons Njue mantle

Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Philip Arnold Subira Anyolo of Kisumu as the fifth metropolitan of the Archdiocese of Nairobi on October 28. According to Canon Law, a metropolitan heads a major diocese and also presides over an ecclesiastical province (Canon 435). This means that as the Nairobi Metropolitan, Archbishop Anyolo will oversee the dioceses of Kericho, Kitui, Machakos, Nakuru and Ngong which have their own bishops as the proper heads.

Every Church jurisdiction is important in its own right. The Archdiocese of Nairobi enjoys significance as an ecclesial jurisdiction for several reasons. Historically, it was the first Church division in Kenya to gain metropolitan status in 1953. Additionally, its territory encompasses the capital city and includes Kiambu County. Recent statistics show that it is the spiritual home of 3.8 million Catholics, representing a sizable proportion of the total population of both counties.

Since its elevation to metropolitan status, the archdiocese has been headed by four archbishops. Its first prelate of this rank was Archbishop JJ McCarthy CSSp who served in that role from 1953 to 1971. Before promotion to the rank of archbishop, he had served as Bishop of the Vicariate of Zanzibar, the ancient Church territory and name that morphed into the Archdiocese of Nairobi.

Archbishop McCarthy, a dynamic prelate, will be ever remembered for completing the construction of the iconic Holy Family Cathedral in a record three years. He was succeeded by the Servant of God Maurice Cardinal Otunga, loved and revered by many for his humility and saintly life.

The third metropolitan was Archbishop R. S. Ndingi Mwana ‘a Nzeki, passionate for social justice and good governance. Some described him as one bitten by the political bug. His successor, John Cardinal Njue, will be remembered for infrastructure development and administrative streamlining. His achievements include the construction of the Cardinal Otunga Plaza, next to the Basilica.

Archbishop Anyolo has a full plate and there are great expectations. All his predecessors were prelates of solid achievements.

Currently, the Archdiocese of Nairobi has 114 parishes of which 70 are served by local diocesan priests and the rest by missionaries. The jurisdiction falls into 14 deaneries or groups of neighbouring parishes.

There are 109 religious women congregations and 71 religious men organizations. Besides providing direct spiritual nourishment, agents of evangelization run education institutions, offer health services and perform works of mercy in the jurisdiction.

Inspired by a papal letter of Pope John XXIII, the Catholic Church understands its mission to be that of mother and teacher. Education, including technical, civil, civic and religious varieties, is part and parcel of evangelization. In a word, the Catholic Church is a teaching Church.

The Archdiocese of Nairobi runs 145 private schools, 26 at secondary and 119 at primary levels. While about half of these are owned and managed by the archdiocese, the others belong to missionary congregations. The said jurisdiction sponsors 102 public secondary schools and 200 primary learning institutions. Many parishes and religious congregations run pre-primary learning centres, technical training and trade institutions.

The Code of Canon Law describes the bishop of a diocese as “a teacher of doctrine, priest of sacred worship and minister of governance” (Canon 375). Archbishop Anyolo will be not just familiar with the operations of these institutions, but his role is to provide leadership, inspiration and guidance as a spiritual father. His training and experience will stand him in good stead to lead and serve in this challenging appointment.

Philip Subira was born in Tongaren location, Bungoma County, to the late Mzee Paul Anyolo Shilitsa and Mama Dinna Nechesa as the second of 10 siblings, five girls and an equal number of boys. He attended Kakamwe Primary School where he successfully sat the Certificate of Primary Education in 1971.

Ms Everlyn Mbayah Shinali, his niece and Principal of St. Anne’s Musoli Girls High School, Kakamega County, recalls joyfully: ”The Archbishop was always humble since his youth and close to all family members. He loved playing football as a midfielder”.

Feeling called to the priesthood, he was admitted at the Mother of Apostles Seminary Eldoret and studied there for four years. After two years of training at St. Augustine Seminary Mabanga, Bungoma, he studied at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary Nairobi, earning a Diploma in Philosophy and a BA degree in Theology.

Ordained priest in 1983 by Bishop John Njenga, Fr Anyolo served the Diocese of Eldoret in various capacities. He did pastoral work at Burnt Forest and Loreto Matunda parishes.

He was appointed secretary first to Bishop Njenga and later to Bishop Cornelius Korir. Sr Caitriona Kelly of the Loreto Sisters has known Archbishop Anyolo since his youth and recalls: “He’s a lover of the pastoral ministry and academically gifted”. The cleric enrolled at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, where he received his PhD in Theology in 1993. His thesis was titled “The Concept of God in Paul: A new Perspective of Relationship with God”.

Upon returning home, he was appointed Catholic Chaplain and lecturer at Moi University, an assignment that proved short-lived. Pope John Paul II soon named him the founding bishop of the Diocese of Kericho, which he headed for seven years. The prelate was transferred to the Diocese of Homa Bay where he served till his elevation as Archbishop of Kisumu in 2019. This has turned out to be another stint as he was recently appointed the Archbishop of Nairobi.

Archbishop Anyolo is a spiritual leader and gifted administrator. A multitasker, he has served as Chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops. Those who know him since his seminary training attest to his strong work ethic and calm demeanor in the face of crises. “He reminds one of the Servant of God Maurice Cardinal Otunga; he’s always cool”, remarks Fr Patrick Kanja who was contemporaneous with Archbishop Anyolo at the Eldoret seminary.

As he takes the reins of the Archdiocese of Nairobi from Bishop David Kamau Ng’ang’a, Apostolic Administrator, Archbishop Philip Arnold Subira Anyolo is undaunted by the Herculean task ahead of him. The new motto on his logo states:”Manate in me, et ego in vobis” which is Latin for “Abide in me and I in you”. (John 15:4).

Fr Lawrence Njoroge is Vice Postulator of the Cause of the Servant of God Maurice Cardinal Otunga and Professor of Development Studies and Ethics at JKUAT. [email protected]