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Archbishop of Canterbury makes rare Kenya visit, receives warm welcome and gifts from Ole Sapit
22nd August, 2026 10:45 PM
Archbishop of Kenya Jackson Ole Sapit has shared a message of fellowship and Christian unity after hosting Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally during her brief stopover in Nairobi.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, August 22, 2026, Sapit said he was privileged to host Mullally as she passed through Kenya on her way to Burundi, where she was scheduled to attend the consecration and installation of the new Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church of Burundi.
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s office also confirmed that Mullally met Sapit over breakfast at his official residence in Nairobi before continuing to Bujumbura.
Sapit said the visit provided an opportunity for the two Anglican leaders to fellowship and discuss matters affecting the church in Kenya and the wider Anglican Communion.
“We were blessed this morning to host the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally, DBE, during her brief stay in Kenya while on her way to Burundi for the consecration and installation of the new Archbishop and Primate,” he wrote.
He said the meeting also offered an opportunity for them to reflect on their shared Christian witness and the role of the Anglican Communion in the world.
Sapit revealed that the Archbishop of Canterbury was accompanied by her spouse, Eamonn Mullally, her chaplain, the Reverend Prebendary Clare Dowding, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion Bishop Anthony Poggo and Adam McKinnon of the Lambeth Palace Communications Team.
The delegation met with Sapit for breakfast at his official residence in Nairobi, where they held what he described as a cordial conversation on matters concerning the Anglican Communion and their common witness in the world.
“During our time together, we shared breakfast, planted trees as an expression of our shared commitment to the care of God’s creation and to the growth of the Communion Forest,” Sapit said.
The tree planting formed part of the activities during the brief visit, with Sapit saying it symbolised the shared commitment of the Anglican leaders to environmental conservation and the Communion Forest initiative.
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s office similarly confirmed that Mullally and Sapit planted a tree within the grounds of Sapit’s official residence in Nairobi.
Sapit said the breakfast meeting also provided space for the leaders to discuss issues affecting the Anglican Communion and the church’s shared mission.
He described their conversation as cordial and centred on matters concerning the Anglican Communion as well as the church’s common witness in the world.
“During our time together, we shared breakfast, planted trees as an expression of our shared commitment to the care of God’s creation and to the growth of the Communion Forest. We also enjoyed a cordial conversation on matters concerning our Anglican Communion and our common witness in the world,” he wrote.
Gifts exchanged
The meeting also saw the two church leaders exchange gifts.
According to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s office, Mullally presented Sapit and his wife, Mama Esther Sapit, with an Icon of the Annunciation and a jar of honey from Lambeth Palace.
Sapit, in turn, presented Mullally with a pectoral cross bearing the colours of the Kenyan flag and a necklace from the Maasai region.
She was also gifted a shawl on behalf of the Mother’s Union from the Province of Kenya.
Sapit thanked God for the opportunity to fellowship with Mullally and her delegation and offered prayers for them as they continued their journey and ministry.
“We thank God for the gift of fellowship and pray for Archbishop Sarah and her delegation as they continue their journey and ministry,” he said.
Sapit has served as Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church of Kenya since 2016 and is the sixth person to hold the position since the Province of Kenya became separate from the Province of East Africa.
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Steve Ireri
Steve is a senior writer with over four years of experience in digital journalism. His focus is on the showbiz and human interest stories. Emails: [email protected] , [email protected]
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