Homosexuality row threatens to split Anglican Church of Kenya

A police officer stands guard at St Andrews Anglican Parish Kagongo in Othaya yesterday.

The rift within the Anglican Church in Mt Kenya West region widened further after two factions emerged with divergent views on the decision by the church leadership to excommunicate some leaders over claims of homosexuality.

A section of followers opposed to the excommunication of five priests held their church service outside, while those in support of Bishop Joseph Kagunda celebrated their mass inside.

Police were called to avert any violence at St Andrews ACK Church Kagongo in Othaya, where one of the excommunicated clergy, John Gachau, served. Trouble started when Canon Ngunjiri Wanjohi moved to introduce a new Vicar in charge of the church, Samuel Maina, to officiate the service.

Gachau supporters claimed that the whole issue about gayism in church was a way of hoodwinking the people, saying that the real issue was about leadership wrangles, which are threatening to tear the church apart.