Former Homa Bay Catholic Bishop Okwach laid to rest
What you need to know:
- Bishop Okwach was buried at St Paul's Cathedral in Homa Bay town where he first served as a bishop.
- He was appointed to head the Homa Bay Diocese in 1993.
- He served as bishop for nine years before resigning in 2002.
The founding Bishop of Homa Bay Catholic Diocese Linus Okok Okwach was laid to rest Wednesday.
Bishop Okwach was buried at St Paul's Cathedral in Homa Bay town where he first served as a bishop.
His casket was put in a compartment built next to the wall of the church where faithful will be able to see as they pray in church.
Bishop Okwach was appointed to head the Homa Bay Diocese in 1993. He served as bishop for nine years before resigning in 2002.
Earlier, a mass was held to remember the late Bishop at Homa Bay High School which was attended by thousands of mourners who bid him farewell.
Bishop Okwach was described as a simple man who had big dreams for Homa Bay Diocese.
The ceremony was presided over by the representative of Pope Francis to Kenya and South Sudan, Apostolic Nuncio, Van Maggen Hurbertus.
Other Catholic clergy who were present at the mass included Nairobi Archbishop Cardinal John Njue and the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops Chairman Philip Anyolo.
Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti, his Deputy Hamilton Orata, Homa Bay Woman Representatives Gladys Wanga and Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma also attended the mass.
The Bishop's body arrived in Homa Bay from Kisumu on Tuesday afternoon. A series of masses and a night vigil were held in honor of the late Bishop at the church.
Bishop Okwach was buried at St Paul's Cathedral in Homa Bay town where he first served as a bishop.
Bishop Okwach was described as a simple man who had big dreams for Homa Bay Diocese.
He lived a simple life when he started working as a clergy.
Other clergymen said he would wash his own car and house.
Hurbertus described Bishop Okwach as a dedicated clergyman who made Homa Bay diocese what it is today.
The clergy said the Bishop built the Catholic Church in Homa Bay from scratch.
Cardinal Njue told mourners of how they shared a class with Bishop Okwach for two years before parting ways to serve the Lord.
Meanwhile, Bishop Anyolo described Bishop Okwach as a clergy who nurtured spirits of many Catholic believers.
“Continue dedicating your time for the development of this diocese,” he told mourners.
Political leaders said the Bishop spurred development projects for the Church and should be emulated by most people.
Mr Awiti, Ms Wanga and Mr Kaluma said the Bishop established many development projects in Homa Bay.
"I attended a number of fund drives that he organised to raise money for development projects. He had connections both nationally and internationally,” Mr Awiti said.
Ms Wanga read a message of condolence from ODM leader Raila Odinga, who hailed Bishop Okwach as a man who participated in improving people’s lives.
The Orange party leader also described the Bishop as a man who promoted education by building schools.
“Besides spirituality, Bishop Okwach was committed to ensuring nourishment of Christians. He built hospitals and schools which improved the lives of the people,” his message read.
Mr Odinga donated Sh200,000 that would be used to start a project in remembrance of the Bishop.
And just as his simple lifestyle, his body was carried in a van belonging to the church.
His casket was later carried by priests who donned white robes to his final resting place.
Bishop Okwach died on September 12 at the St Monica Hospital in Kisumu where he was being treated after an accident.
He died at the age of 67.
During his tenure in Homa Bay, he started a number of parishes namely St Paul of the Cross Awendo in Migori County, Sacred Heart Ang’iya and St Mary’s Nyarongi parishes in Homa Bay County.
He was ordained as a priest on December 10, 1980 before being ordained Bishop on December 31, 1993.
