Nyeri High court has slammed brakes on the succession process of Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Mt Kenya West Diocese’s longest serving bishop – Joseph Kagunda. This followed an order restraining the outgoing Bishop from convening the 16th ordinary session of the synod of the diocese.
Members of the diocese’s synod are supposed to pick 16 representatives, amongst themselves, that will participate in electing the next bishop. Synod is the governing council of the church, which consists of the House of Bishops, the Clergy and the Laity.
In the injunction orders issued on Monday this week, Lady Justice Maureen Odero stopped the synod meeting that was scheduled to take place on April 9 and 10 at Othaya Boys High School in Nyeri County.
Bishop Kagunda, who was named as an interested party in the matter, was restrained to convene the meeting and the police ordered to ensure that it does not take place at the proposed venue or any other place.
Pharis Muriithi, who is one of the church’s faithful, had moved to court to seek the orders. ACK Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit, the provincial synod, ACK Mt Kenya West synod and the registered trustees of the ACK were named as defendants in the lawsuit.
The case has derailed the succession process even as a retirement service for the outgoing bishop is expected to be held on Sunday at ACK St Peter’s Cathedral in Nyeri town.
During Bishop Kagunda’s 20-years regime, the diocese was marked with chaos and conflict that saw congregants exchange blows over leadership wrangles. The diocesan boss was in the spotlight when he engaged in a legal battle with three priests from the church who were expelled for allegedly practicing homosexuality.
Bishop Kagunda was consecrated on August 8, 2004 after replacing the Diocese’s first Bishop – the Rt. Rev. Alfred Chipman. The Diocese was created in 1993 after it was subdivided from the Mount Kenya Central Diocese. Chipman was consecrated on July 6, 1993
After the retirement service, Archbishop Ole Sapit is expected to appoint a commissary who will oversee operations of the diocese before elections are held.
Already, Archdeacons Edwin Mbiiri, Gerald Muriithi, Peter Ngumo, Samuel Mwangi, Charles Itegi, Isaac Wanjii and Reverend Sospeter Kuria have expressed their interest to vie for the position.
The seven candidates will be vetted by the church’s committee and only three of them will be selected to battle it out at the ballot. Rev Sospeter Kuria, a candidate, says he seeks to introduce his expertise as a lawyer and a priest to the church.
“As a transformative learned friend, I will bring a lot of wealth to the church as a priest and a lawyer by embracing the adherence of scriptures as well as the legal system. I have been doing pro bono legal awareness forums not only in ACK but also in other churches so as to promote ecumenical cohesion,” Rev Kuria, who has served as a priest for 17 years, said.
“My experience in human resources management will help me address the clergy and other employees’ issues. With my legal expertise on labour laws, the diocese will not experience legal battles as it has been experienced there before,” he added.
After the elections of the new diocese head will be held, the winner will automatically assume the position of a bishop elect.
Archbishop Ole Sapit will make an announcement of the consecration date. He will later conduct a special service of consecration and enthronement for the new bishop.