Philip Sulumeti

Philip Sulumeti (15 August 1937 – 9 November 2025) was a Kenyan prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Kakamega from 5 December 2014 until his death. He had served as the ordinary of the Diocese of Kakamega since his appointment as its founding bishop on 28 February 1978. Before that, he had been the ordinary of the Diocese of Kisumu from 1976 until 1978, when he was transferred to Kakamega. He also served as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kisumu from 1972 until 1976. He retired on 5 December 2014.

Early life and education Sulumeti was born on 15 August 1937 in Kotur Village, Teso South, Busia County in the Diocese of Bungoma. He attended primary school in his home area. He studied in seminaries in East Africa before he went to Rome, for further studies. He graduated from the St. Peter's Pontifical College, Rome, with a Licentiate and a Doctorate in Canon Law.

Priest Sulumeti was ordained priest on 6 January 1966 at Kisumu by Pope Paul VI. He served as priest for the Diocese of Kisumu until 28 May 1972, when he was appointed simultaneously as Auxiliary Bishop of Kisumu, Kenya and as Titular Bishop of Urci.

Death Sulumeti died on 9 November 2025 at 11:00 p.m., while receiving treatment at Nairobi Hospital. He was 88. His death was announced by the Catholic Diocese of Kakamega on 10 November.

Other considerations Sulumeti is credited with spearheading the national constitutional review process in 2006. Due to his non-partisan stance and considerable legal expertise, he was able to moderate many contentious clauses in the document.