By George Ndeto,

Pope Leo XIV has officially appointed the Right Rev. Simon Peter Kamomoe as the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wote.

The major canonical breakthrough was officially announced by the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, Archbishop Bert Van Megen, who confirmed that the Holy Father had elevated the prelate to Residential Bishop.

Bishop Kamomoe has been shepherding the young, growing diocese as Apostolic Administrator since March 2026. The new papal appointment upgrades his status, granting him the full residential pastoral mandate to lead the faithful across the region.

Prior to this assignment, he served as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Nairobi. Church leaders view the swift appointment as a strategic move to ensure continuity and institutional stability in the newly created diocese.

The faithful across Makueni County welcomed the news with synchronized parish celebrations and thanksgiving prayers. Local Catholic welfare groups praised the Vatican’s decision, citing Kamomoe’s established track record in grassroots development, his synodal spirit, and his strong focus on rural evangelization.

The new Bishop takes over a diocese dealing with severe regional droughts and infrastructure deficits, making clean water initiatives and educational expansion his immediate pastoral priorities.

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