Staunch Human Rights Advocate Bishop Cornelius Korir Passes Away

Catholic Bishop and staunch human rights advocate, Cornelius Korir of the Eldoret Diocese, has passed away.

The Bishop passed away in his Eldoret home at Elgon View estate. He is reported to have succumbed to a short illness. He was aged 67.

His body has been transferred to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary.

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Bishop Philip Anyolo, the Chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, confirmed the sudden demise of Bishop Korir.

He added that the Bishop was preparing to be flown to Nairobi for further treatment before he passed away.

“He was supposed to travel to Karen Hospital in Nairobi this morning but when Father went to check on him, it was confirmed that he had passed on,” Bishop Anyolo told the press.

Bishop Cornelius Korir was born in 1950 at Segutiet, Kericho Diocese in the former Bomet District.

He was ordained as a Catholic Priest in November 1982 and later consecrated as bishop in June 1990.

During his time as Bishop, Korir presided over an unprecedented increase in church membership. He was instrumental in the growth of the Catholic Church’s education and health sectors by building several schools and hospitals in the region.

Bishop Korir was also the chairman of the Catholic Peace and Justice Commission and was vocal on matters touching on public interest.

Two weeks before passing on, he called for dialogue between the Jubilee government and the opposition to end the political tension in the country.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta has sent a condolence message to the Catholic church describing Bishop Korir as a great religious leader and an excellent peacemaker.

“I join the Catholic Church in mourning a great religious leader whose exemplary service calls for emulation by others,” Uhuru said.

“In this hour of sorrow, and on behalf of the people and Government of Kenya, I convey my deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the Catholic church, and the family and friends of the late Bishop Korir.”

Bishop Cornelius Korir served in Molo, Kituro and Nakuru before taking up the role of Vocations Director and Episcopal Vicar at the Diocese of Kericho.

May his soul rest in peace.