The Catholic Church in Kenya is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Kenyan Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Pope in the Vatican City. The earliest traces of the Catholic Church in Kenya begin with the missionaries that penetrated the state in 1498, led by Vasco da Gama. Due to regional conflict, poor transportation, and a largely nomadic presence, it became more established in northern Kenya during the twentieth century.

Demographics

According to the Catholic Church official records, there are over 18 million baptised Catholics in Kenya (nearly 40% of the country's population). According to the 2019 national housing census, 10.6 million Catholics in Kenya are strict adherents and attend Mass regularly. In 2020, there were over 3,644 priests working across more than 1,100 parishes.

Organization

Within Kenya the hierarchy consists of:

Notable Catholics in Kenya