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BISHOP ELIUD OKIRING

EARLY LIFE Eliud Okiring Odera was born on 14th July 1942 at Hoito Village (Kipchuria) Chemonge Location Mt Elgon District, to the late Mzee Jairus Odera ishokaa and Mama Norah Amoit Amusugut. He was baptised in 1955 and Confirmed in 1956.
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EDUCATION Eliud Okiring was educated at Hoito A.C School from 1952 to 1957. He joined KaptamaF>A>M in 1958 to 1961. He later joined Bukrua Agricultural Institue for a certificate in Agriculture and later trained at Chadwick Teachers Collage in Butere from 1963 to 1964.

CARRIER AND WORKING LIFE Eliud Okiring taught in a number of schools in Mt Elgon District before joining St. Paul United Theological Collage in Limuru, Kenya from 1974 to 1976 where he graduated in theology from the University of Nairobi. 19th December 1976 he was made a deacon at St Lukes cathedral Butere and Later Ordained as a priest on 4th December 1977. he served as a priest before being appointed as a diocesan Youth Advisor and Education religious of the larger Kakamega District from 1977 to 1980. 1978 he went to Germany on an exchange programme on an National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) youth programme. 1981 he was then appointed Archdeacon in the Bishop's office of the Maseno North Diocese. 1982-1983 He went to University of Dublin, in ireland in the United Kingdom for a professional Diploma in theology. On returning he was appointed Archdeacon of Mt Elgon Archdeaconary in 1983. 1987 he was appointed with a special duty to prepare and develop Katakwa into a Diocese. 1990 he was posted to the Diocese of eldoret for one year. 1991 he returned into the new Diocese of Katakwa and served as a vicar in both Katakwa and Amagoro Deanery. 1991 2nd March he was elected the 1st Bishop of the Diocese of Katakwa of the Church of the Province of Kenya. 1991 19th May he was consecreted and enthroned as the 1st Bishop of Katakwa Diocese. 1991 after a long struggle, the Diocese of Katakwa was finally carved out of the Diocese of Nambale. 2006 he retired as the first Bishop of the Katakwa Diocese "Some of the people opposed to the creation of the diocese did not come to my consecration. But it was a wonderful day for the bishop and the people of Katakwa. Our struggle had been rewarded. Our happiness reached the high heavens," Okiring recalled upon his retirement in 2007. Katakwa Diocese is headquartered in Amagoro. Its main church, St John’s pro-cathedral, has grown from 22 parishes in 1991 to 44 today. Even after retiring from the pulpit, the late Okiring continued preaching. His last official function was in October last year when he presided over the opening of St Mara Aboloi AC Church. “Although I am now retired, I still preach. From the pulpit, I speak my mind on many contemporary issues affecting the society we live in," he told the faithful who included his successor, Zakayo Epusi.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY After retiring from the active preaching life Bishop Eliud Okiring founded the Destitute Mother Child Organisation (DEMCO) based in Amagoro. this is a non profit organisation that is dedicated to helping HIV/AIDS orphans, Widows and Vulnerable Children and women in Western province of Kenya. The organisation provides food, medicine, clothing and education to over 120 orphans and poor children in four districts of western Kenya. The organisation also empowers widows and destitute poor women in the region by funding sustainable income generating projects for women groups changing their lifestyles forever. By his time of demise, he had supported over 120 children both in Primary, Secondary, special school and university to the tune of 3.8 million shillings. Demco education support programmes enrolls 20 new admissions to various schools and collages every year.

AWARDS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. Bishop Okiring served as ACK provincial chairman Children department.