The government of Kakamega will support faith-based health and education facilities in honor of retired Catholic Bishop Phillip Sulumeti.
In supporting Sulumeti’s achievements in the health sector, Barasa said his administration will support private and faith-based health facilities to ensure access and provision of quality medical services to all.
This is in addition to operationalizing the County Teaching and Referral Hospital in collaboration with the national government.
“His contribution to the health sector is equally immense. We recognise the health facilities here and beyond this county that are now standing and serving people because of him. We will strive to improve such and support them," Governor Barasa said.
Bishop Sulumeti celebrated his Episcopal Golden Jubilee in a colorful event On Saturday October 29,
It was attended by, among others, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Kakamega Governor Fernandez Barasa and Narc-Kenya party leader Martha Karua at the Bukhungu stadium.
A jubilee is a special year of remission of sins and universal pardon and in the Roman Catholic Church, Jubilees are years of forgiveness of sins and reconciliation.
They are marked every 25 years to celebrate significant periods in monarchs' reigns and the national life.
Sulumeti is fondly remembered for the crucial role he played in the pastoral life of the church in Kakamega and the larger Kisumu metropolitan.
Mudavadi remembered the bishop’s role as chair of the Bishop Sulumeti Consensus Committee whose report he said paved the way for the agreement at the National Constitutional Conference in 2004.
“A pivotal vote at Bomas of Kenya on the report ensured a middle ground for delegates, eventually breaking the deadlock on sticky proposals," Mudavadi said.
Governor Barasa recognised Bishop Sulumeti as a champion in academia, who contributed immensely in the establishment of reputable learning institutions and also sponsored many young people to fulfill their lifetime dreams in education.
"Many institutions initiated by Bishop Sulumeti, the likes of Mukumu Girls and Eregi Teachers Training College, have continually recorded outstanding performances both at the county and national levels," said Barasa.
Barasa said his administration will promote such achievements by the bishop through construction and equipping of learning institutions in devolved functions in line with his manifesto.
(Edited by V Graham)
