Late Kenyan Bishop Eulogized as Educationist, Great Example of Humility

“Bishop Linus has been ailing for some time. Other details will be communicated in due course. Let us pray for the repose of his soul and keep his family, relatives and friends in prayers. Our deepest condolences to the Diocese of Homa Bay and Archdiocese of Kisumu,” said Fr. Rono.

Born in 1952, the late Bishop was ordained a Priest in 1980, appointed Bishop of Homa Bay Diocese in October 1993 and ordained Bishop in December 1993.

After serving as Bishop of Homabay Diocese for some nine years, Bishop Okok resigned in February 2002 at the age of 49.

To Fr. Charles Odira of Homa Bay Diocese who was ordained a Priest by the late Prelate, the Bishop was the epitome of humility.

“Bishop Okok ordained me to priesthood in 2000 and I met him on many other occasions. Every time I met him, Bishop struck me as the humblest person I had ever met in life,” Fr. Charles told ACI Africa.

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“When he was Bishop of Homa Bay, he lived in a very humble structure because the diocese was just beginning. It was a structure that had three rooms, one was his office, the other where he slept and the other where he ate his meals. He stayed in the room until he left the Diocese,” the Cleric, a native of Homa Bay, shared.

According to Fr. Charles, Bishop Okok lived in a humble structure at the present-day Homa Bay Pro-Cathedral while he supervised the construction of the Bishop's house, which he never got to live in himself.

After his resignation in 2002, the founding Bishop of the Kenyan diocese proceeded to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kisumu, where he helped with the activities of the Archdiocese, including priestly ordinations.

Daniel Nyamuti who goes to Mbita Parish in Homa Bay recalled his last moments with the Bishop who expressed concern about security in the Remba and Ringiti islands of Lake Victoria, saying that authorities were not doing enough to calm the situation.

“The Bishop decried the laxity of the church and government officers in taming the inhuman handling of the residents of Remba and Ringiti islands by intruders. He emphasized that we must continue to coexist as a family and church regardless of one's religion,” Daniel recalled.

Bishop Okok also spoke to the parishioner about the place of Catholic youth in the church and was “greatly concerned at the laxity of youth to be part of the church affairs”.

The Prelate who has been named after a school in Homabay has been acclaimed as a great educationist and “a wise counselor”.

“I happened to know about Bishop Linus Okok when my sister was admitted at Bishop Linus Okok Girls School in Kabondo,” Berry O. Barack wrote in a Facebook post, and added, “I read about his rich history. I was convinced he was a dedicated man of Christ. He was an educationist and a wise counselor too. He wrote his rich history. May Almighty accept his soul.” 

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Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga on Sunday, September 13 eulogized Bishop Okok as a true example of faith with deeds.

“In Life, Linus Okok, Bishop Emeritus was a true example of faith with deeds. His death is a big blow to the Catholic Church, our country and the people of Homa Bay who continued to rely on him for guidance on both spiritual and earthly needs. May Almighty God accept his soul,” Odinga said.

In the September 13 communique, Archbishop Anyolo said that funeral arrangements of the late Prelate would be communicated at a later time.

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.