Pope Leo XIV has reportedly established the new Metropolitan Province of Eldoret and appointed Bishop Joseph Obanyi Sagwe, formerly Bishop of Kakamega, as its first Metropolitan Archbishop.
The announcement was reportedly made on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 2.00 p.m. Kenyan time (12 noon in Rome), through an official notification addressed to the Bishops of Kenya by the Chargé d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Kenya.
According to the notification, the newly established Metropolitan Province of Eldoret will comprise the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Eldoret and four suffragan dioceses: Lodwar, Kapsabet, Kitale and Kericho.
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The development marks a significant change in the Catholic Church's administrative structure in Kenya, particularly across the western and north-western regions.
Obanyi's Appointment to Lead New Metropolitan Province
Archbishop-designate Joseph Obanyi Sagwe's reported appointment follows his service as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Eldoret after Pope Leo XIV appointed Archbishop Dominic Kimengich as Coadjutor Archbishop of Mombasa in January 2026.
Bishop Obanyi was subsequently appointed Apostolic Administrator of Eldoret on April 25, 2026, to oversee the diocese during the leadership transition.
His reported elevation to Metropolitan Archbishop would place him at the head of the newly established ecclesiastical province, with responsibility for the pastoral leadership of the Archdiocese of Eldoret and fostering communion and coordination among its four suffragan dioceses.
The establishment of the province is expected to provide a new administrative and pastoral structure for the Catholic Church in the region.
The four dioceses under the new metropolitan structure, according to the supplied notification, are Lodwar, Kapsabet, Kitale and Kericho.
The development is expected to be an important milestone for Catholic faithful across the region, as the Church continues its evangelising mission and pastoral work.
Further details on the formal implementation of the new ecclesiastical structure and the Archbishop's installation are awaited.