Bishop Emeritus Linus Okok dies in Kisumu hospital

Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Homa Bay Rt Rev Linus Okok Okwach is dead.

Bishop Okok (pictured) passed on Saturday night at St Monica Hospital in Kisumu after a long illness.

In a message by Kenya Catholic Commission of Bishops (KCCB) General Secretary Rev Fr Daniel Rono, Bishop Emeritus has been ailing for some time.

"I write on behalf of the Chairman of KCCB. It is with humble acceptance of God's will that we announce the passing on of Rt Rev Linus Okok Okwach, the Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Homabay which occurred last night at St Monica Hospital in Kisumu," said  Rev Fr Rono.

"Let us pray for the repose of his soul and keep his family, relatives and friends in prayers. Our deepest condolences to the Diocese of Homa Bay and Archdiocese of Kisumu."

His Lordship was born on October 20, 1952, in Ojola, Kisumu county.

He was ordained as a priest on December 10, 1980, and consecrated as Bishop on October 18, 1993.

His Lordship served in that capacity in the dioceses of Homa Bay before resigning on February 20, 2002.

Good preacher

Nairobi-based Religious Catholic Brother Kennedy Oronjo (St Charles Lwanga Brothers) eulogised Bishop Okok as a good preacher of the word of God and a loving clergy.

“He is the founding father of Homa Bay Diocese and loved men of the cloth,” Br Oronjo told Standard digital on phone.

Br Oronjo said it is through Bishop Okok that the Brothers of St Charles Lwanga, a Catholic religious institute of Religious Brothers found their way to Homa Bay County.

“It is through His Lordship that Brothers of St Charles Lwanga found their way to Homa Bay County and fully supported us.”

He said through Bishop Okok’s support the religious brothers were able to establish St Bernard’s Technical Institute, a training institution in Homa Bay.

“Indeed good souls go faster than doted souls for God needs them for the purity of his heavenly kingdom,” he concluded.

ODM leader Raila Odinga on Sunday eulogized Bishop Okok as a true example of faith with deeds.

"His death is a big blow to the Catholic Church, our country and the people of Homa Bay who continued to rely on him for guidance on both spiritual and earthly needs. May Almighty God accepts his soul," Raila tweeted.