Linus Okok Okwach (20 October 1952 – 12 September 2020), was a Kenyan Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Homa Bay. He was appointed as bishop of Homa Bay on 18 October 1993 and he resigned on 20 February 2002.[1]
Background and priesthood
Okwach was born on 20 October 1952 in the city of Kisumu, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kisumu, in present-day Kisumu County. He was ordained a priest on 10 December 1980. He served as a priest of the Archdiocese of Kisumu until 18 October 1993.[1]
As bishop
Father Okwach was appointed Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Homa Bay on 18 October 1993. He was the first Ordinary of the newly created diocese, and was consecrated a bishop at Homa Bay on 31 December 1993 by Cardinal Jozef Tomko, Cardinal-Deacon of Gesù Buon Pastore alla Montagnola, assisted by Archbishop Clemente Faccani, Titular Archbishop of Serra, and Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth, Archbishop of Kisumu. Bishop Okwach resigned as Bishop of Homa Bay on 20 February 2002.[1]
Illness and death
Bishop Emeritus Okwach fell down at his residence in 2019 and injured his back. He never stood up or walked again after the fall. Three weeks before his death, Bishop Okwach was admitted to
St Monica Hospital in Kisumu on account of complications of his illness. He died in hospital on 12 September 2020.[2][3] He was laid to rest at St Paul's Cathedral in Homa Bay on 30 September 2020.[4]
