DNK International By Our Reporter,Nairobi
Bishop Dr. Calisto Odede, a former high school teacher turned theologian, is the Presiding Bishop of Christ Is The Answer Ministries (CITAM), one of Kenya’s largest and most influential evangelical churches.
Formerly known as Nairobi Pentecostal Church (NPC), CITAM was founded in 1959 by missionaries from the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada.
Over the decades, it has grown into a global ministry with numerous branches across Kenya and abroad.
In Kenya, the church has congregations in Nairobi—including Valley Road, Karen, Buruburu, Woodley, Parklands, Roysambu and Kasarani-Clay City as well as in Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru, Thika, Naivasha, Kitengela, Ngong, Kapsabet, Ongata Rongai and Nyeri, among other towns.
Internationally, CITAM has established branches in North America, Botswana and Eastern Europe.
Born in Migori County in 1962, Bishop Odede began his education at Kadika Primary School before joining Cardinal Otunga High School, where he completed both his O-Level and A-Level studies.
He later enrolled at Kenyatta University, graduating with a Bachelor of Education degree specialising in Physics and Chemistry.
Although he started his professional career as a high school teacher, Odede told DNK-International that he had always felt called to Christian ministry.
In 1980, while in Form Four, he made a personal commitment to the Christian faith and was born again.
He later pioneered a Bible study group at his school, an experience that strengthened both his faith and passion for ministry.
At Kenyatta University, he was elected chairman of the Christian Union and worked closely with the Fellowship of Christian Unions (FOCUS).
After teaching for a year, he left the classroom to join FOCUS as a full time staff member.
His transition into full time ministry was accompanied by further theological training.
He earned a Diploma in Biblical Studies before pursuing a Master’s degree in Intercultural Studies at Trinity International University in the United States and Bethany University in Singapore.
This year he graduated with a PhD from Stellenbosch University in South Africa.
Odede joined CITAM as a member in 1988.
Two decades later, in 2008, he was ordained as a Pastor and began serving at the Valley Road assembly.
He was later transferred to the Woodley and Karen assemblies before returning to Valley Road.
Around 2014, he joined Nairobi Baptist Church on Ngong Road as the senior pastor, serving for six years.
It was during his tenure there that CITAM’s leadership approached him to succeed the retiring Presiding Bishop.
In December 2020, Bishop Odede was consecrated as CITAM’s Presiding Bishop, succeeding Dr David Oginde, who had completed a decade at the helm before retiring.
Under the church’s constitution, a Presiding Bishop serves a maximum of two five- year terms.
Since 2021, Bishop Odede has also served as Chancellor of the Roysambu based Pan Africa Christian (PAC) University.
In June, Odede was elected as the President of Evangelical Alliance in Kenya, the umbrella body for evangelical churches in the country.
Bishop Odede is married to Elizabeth Odede, and together they have three sons: Victor, Michael and Benson.
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🗓️ [DNK-International@July 12,2026]
