Bishop Korir: A cleric who cherished peace, cohesion and development in humanity

Bishop Cornelius Kipng'eno Korir

Two years ago, thousands of Christian faithful flocked the Mother of Apostles Minor Seminary in Eldoret to mark 25 years of great contribution to humanity and society by Bishop Cornelius Kipng’eno arap Korir as Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Eldoret.

A walk of Bishop Korir’s Silver Jubilee of Episcopal Ministry saw Christians from all regions of the country and overseas grace the event dedicated to a man whose interest in priesthood started at a tender age at Chesoen and Segutiet primary schools between 1959 and 1970.

A cleric who cherished peace, cohesion and development in humanity, Bishop Korir -- who passed away on October 30 -- talked of the negativity brought about by instability and intolerance in society. 

Many described him as a consummate peace crusader who went out of his way to broker peace deals and ensure cohesion and unity among different communities in Kenya.

“Though these years are marked with political and ethnic violence, I thank God for the great and special gift of grace he bestowed on me. I urge every Christian and people of good will to strive for and embrace God’s love as a tool for peace building despite of ethnicity or religions,” he told the congregation during his silver jubilee celebrations.

He advocated strengthened dialogue and common understanding and recognising and appreciating each other’s positive interests in fostering peace.

The Bishop, who was conferred with a Doctor of Letters Honorary Degree by Moi University in 2012 for his unmatched efforts in peace building, reconciliation and cohesion, dedicated his all for the sake of peace building.

In the same year, 2015, he was made the Goodwill Ambassador for Peace by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).

He was in 2006 awarded the Moran of the Burning Spear by former President Mwai Kibaki and in 2009, he earned the Milele Lifetime Award from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.

Bishop Korir was ordained a Catholic Priest by the Rt Rev Ndingi Mwana wa Nzeki on November 6, 1982. He then proceeded to serve as a priest in Molo and Kituro parishes until 1986.

Between 1987 and 1989, he worked as a priest in Nakuru Diocese and as a vocations director and Episcopal Vicar of Kericho Diocese. In June 1990, he was appointed and consequently consecrated as the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret by Pope John Paul II.

He has had key responsibilities in the Catholic Church where he served in various commissions.

He was a delegate to the Bishops Synod to Rome and was also the Trustee of Waumini Kenya Catholic Secretariat.

The late Bishop was also elected vice chairman of Kenya Episcopal Conference (KEC), a position he held between 1998 and 2003. He was mandated with the administration of the Kenya Catholic Secretariat where he oversaw the development of the first policies of the secretariat that have helped facilitate the administration of human resource, finance and properties.

Between 1998 and 2004, he was the chairman of Education and Religious Studies and he pioneered a trainer’s manual under the Episcopal Conference to assist in fighting HIV and Aids.

Change the area

During his tenure, 113 public Catholic Church-sponsored secondary schools and seven private ones, 322 public Catholic Church-sponsored primary schools and 28 private ones were established across the country.

It has been said that Bishop Korir supported teachers in their professional and spiritual development and also collaborated with several leaders and education stakeholders including those from Protestant and Muslim faiths, to bring peace between different communities.

To the residents of cattle rustling and banditry-prone Kerio Valley triangle of West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Turkana and Samburu counties, Bishop Korir was a beacon of peace and worked tirelessly to try and end the menace and bloodletting.

The prelate was revered in Kerio Valley for his desire to change the area in to a secure and prosperous one, akin to the Biblical Canaan flowing with milk and honey. Ideally, his peace initiatives will be permanently etched in the minds of the locals.

The man who served as a priest for 34 years and a Bishop for 27 years, made immense contributions in arbitrating for peace among warring communities and also tackling insecurity in parts of the North Rift.

Sometimes in 1997, when there was untold animosity between the Pokot and Marakwet communities and several lives were lost, Bishop Korir went and camped in the Elgeyo Escarpment to try and broker peace.

“He risked his life together with other Catholic priests and sisters who were offering first aid services and taking the causalities to hospitals. He was literally in the battlefield. It will take us long to forget how he fervently championed for peace,” recounts Richard Kaino, a resident of Tot in Elgeyo Marakwet County.

Surprisingly the prelate later learnt that the two communities wanted him “to help them talk to each other to end the animosity.”

He proceeded to hold peace seminars in Catholic Pastoral Centres and hotels to bring the warring communities to a neutral ground.

“Those who attended the seminars were not effective in ending the fights after they were dismissed as professional seminar goers,” said Bishop Korir once said. “This was not the best option and I started leading peace meetings right in the villages.”

Live in harmony

He wanted people to express themselves freely. “In the process, schools were built, cattle dips constructed and boreholes sunk at neutral grounds. These projects fostered the communities’ healthy self-interest and cooperation, thus reducing mistrust,” he said.

Among such institutions include Queen of Peace Secondary School, Chesongoch and Kolowa market.

In his book Amani Mashinani (peace at the grassroots), Bishop Korir narrated how people can live in harmony.

“Rather than holding peace conferences for elites in air-conditioned hotels, peace meetings should be conducted at the grassroots where the people affected by the insecurity live. Starting from person-to-person contacts and growing group-to-group then initiating community connecting projects and capping with localised peace treaties.”

Two years ago, Bishop Korir was instrumental in ending animosity between Turkana and the Pokot. He brought together governors, Members of Parliament and senators from the two counties and urged them to support peace process along their border.

He urged the Government at that time to disarm those with illegal firearms. Turkana Women’s Representative Joyce Emanikor said Bishop Korir was a source of hope and peace for the Turkana and Pokot communities. “The people of Turkana will miss a peace crusader who spearheaded peace-building initiatives,” Ms Emanikor said.

“I remember him for identifying and reforming cattle rustlers and highway bandits on the Lodwar-Kitale road. He was an icon of hope for those who bear the brunt of insecurity in those areas.”

Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos described the late Bishop Korir as a peace-maker who on several occasions risked his life  in order to bring together the pastoral communities engaged in cattle rustling in Kerio Valley triangle.

“Bishop Korir was an epitome of peace-building in the entire Kerio Valley region and through his initiatives over two decades, cattle rustling and banditry have drastically reduced,” Tolgos said. “He helped the people build schools, churches, schools, hospitals and irrigation projects,” he added.