THE Bishop of Winchester has flown to Africa returning to a country where he grew up.

The Rt Rev Tim Dakin spent much of his childhood in Kenya and has worked extensively in the country.

He tweeted: “In Kenya with Africans who inspire Africans in mission across East Africa: advocacy, evangelism, slum ministry, chaplaincy, schools, FE/HE.”

The Diocese of Winchester was asked about the visit but refused to give further information until the Bishop gets back from Africa.

It is understood that he is in Kenya with Mark Collinson, the Canon Principal at Winchester Cathedral who is in charge of Winchester School of Mission.

Mark tweeted that they had met students on an urban mission course from six nations and were on placement in a slum of Nairobi called Kibera. It is the largest urban slum in Africa.

He said that the first Anglican parish in Kibera had served a population of 600,000 but he says there now there are five parishes.

Mark tweeted: “Why's it so smelly? 600,000 people but no toilets and sewerage system for over 30 years.”

Most Kibera’s slum residents live in extreme poverty, earning less than a US dollar a day. Unemployment rates are high and HIV and AIDS cases have been reported to be numerous.

Kibera has few schools, and the majority of people cannot afford education for their children. Clean water is scarce and diseases caused by poor hygiene are common. The great majority of those living in the slum lack access to basic services, including electricity, water, and medical care.

Bishop Tim was born in Africa in a town called Kongwa in neighbouring Tanzania, where his parents were missionaries. Tim attended kindergarten and primary school in Nairobi and after moving to England he returned to work in East Africa as an adult.

After being ordained as a deacon in 1993 and a priest in 1994 his first appointment was as principal of the Church Army training college in Nairobi, during which time he was also an assistant curate at All Saints' Cathedral, Nairobi.