Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
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| Rt Rev. Dominic Kimengitch during installation as the Bishop of Eldoret Diocese |
The installation of Rt. Rev. Dominic Kimengich Saturday, February 1, as the Bishop of Kenya’s Eldoret Diocese, peace and reconciliation were key areas highlighted that the new local Ordinary should focus on as he begins his pastoral ministry in the region.
The ceremony held at the Mother of Apostles Seminary in Eldoret brought together Church leaders, politicians including the Deputy President of Kenya Hon. Dr. William Ruto, Government officials, the clergy, Religious Men and Women and thousands of Catholic faithful.
“You know that you are taking over from an icon of peace, an icon of justice (and) an icon of humility,” the vice chairman of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) Rt. Rev. John Oballa Owaa said referring to the late Rt. Rev. Cornelius Kipng’eno Arap Korir who was known as an instrumental figure in peace building and who died in 2017 while serving as the Local Ordinary of Eldoret Diocese.
He added, “That can be intimidating but count on our prayers and every support as you work for peace in the Diocese.”
“Our prayer is that the spirit of Bishop Korir may come upon you and you become as courageous and powerful in your work of bringing forth peace reconciliation among the people, as he was doing,” Archbishop of Kenya’s Nyeri Archdiocese Most Rev. Anthony Muheria highlighted while addressing the new Bishop and continued, “may God walk with you and give you courage.”
Echoing the same concern that political leaders and the Church should collaborate to bring peace in the region, Kenya’s Deputy President His Excellency Dr Ruto said, “We have faith that Rift Valley will be a valley of peace. All of us will unite to ensure Kenya is a place where we all live in peace and unity.”
He added, “Your installation comes at a time when the nation must come together to negotiate its nationhood.”
On his part, the newly installed Bishop promised the congregation that he is ready to serve and work towards peace building in the Rift Valley region of Kenya saying, “I have been listening to what you people are saying and I can summarize in one word “fuata nyayo za Askofu Korir” (Follow In the footsteps of Bishop Korir);I can assure you that I will try and do my best.”
The 58-year-old Bishop added that through government and Church leaders including the Muslims, “we are able to work together for that peace (and) to ensure that we have that reconciliation whenever there are problems, because without peace there is no development but I will ensure that what Bishop Korir did continues.”
The prelate who has been serving in Kenya’s Lodwar Diocese for nearly ten years confirmed his familiarity with insecurity issues which he previously encountered saying, “Coming from Lodwar, we have been experiencing challenges along the borders and I know what it means when there is insecurity; I know what it means to loose people even our own Christians and Muslims because of insecurity. It’s my prayer that we may learn to live together so that we can build our country and continue to develop.”
The rite of installation was presided over by His Eminence John Cardinal Njue of Kenya’s Nairobi Archdiocese whereby he officially handed Bishop Kimengich the pastoral staff which belonged to his predecessor the late Bishop Korir.