Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, a seminary of the U.S. Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS), awarded Obare an honorary Doctor of Divinity (Honoris Causa) degree in 2006.

Obare was born in Misambi village on 10 May 1947 in the Nyamira District of Kenya.

He was awarded a master's degree from the LCMS's Concordia Seminary in St Louis, Missouri.

He came back to Kenya and continued at MLTC until August 2002, when he was called to the office of the Presiding Bishop of ELCK.

[4] The Council of the Lutheran World Federation subsequently terminated a leadership position Obare held within the LWF on 1 September 2005.