Cardinal John Njue has advised his Nairobi archdiocese successor Philip Anyolo to keep off politics and "walk with God's people".
Pope Francis announced on Thursday that he had appointed Anyolo as the new archbishop of the Nairobi archdiocese. Anyolo has been Kisumu archbishop since November 15, 2018.
He replaces Cardinal Njue, who retired as archbishop in January after attaining the age of 75. Njue had served for 13 years.
Reacting to the news, Njue told the Star that the Pope had made the right choice, expressing confidence that the church would transition to the right hands.
"Archbishop Anyolo has good leadership qualities and the right spiritual standing to lead the people of God. I'm sure he will succeed," he said.
"I believe they have followed the right procedure [in selecting him]. It is a blessing that the archbishop has been successfully selected because it is not an easy process."
Njue, however, urged Anyolo to avoid politics.
"All he needs to do is to walk with the people of God."
The retired prelate said the Catholic Church has never taken political sides, asserting that the new leader would sustain the tradition.
Anyolo will become the fifth archbishop of Nairobi. After Cardinal Njue’s retirement, the archdiocese has been under the guidance of Auxiliary Bishop David Kamau, who has been serving as the Apostolic Administrator since January 4, 2021.
Anyolo hails from Tongaren in Bungoma and was ordained a priest on October 15, 1983. He became bishop of Kericho diocese on December 6, 1995, and was transferred to the Homa Bay diocese on May 23, 2003.
According to data from the church, Anyolo started his ministry work as a priest at the age of 27. His appointment paves the way for an elaborate installation ceremony.
ODM leader Raila Odinga congratulated Anyolo, saying his diligent and selfless service to the church had paid off.
