Anglicans get new archbishop today

Former head of the Anglican Church Eliud Wabukala at All Saints Cathedral Church Nairobi 12/05/16 [PHOTO:MOSES OMUSULA/Standard]

Electoral College members of the Anglican Church in Kenya (ACK) meet this morning at the All Saints’ Cathedral to elect a new archbishop to replace the retiring Eliud Wabukala.

The representatives of the estimated five million Anglicans that constitute the Kenya Province, started arriving in Nairobi last evening for the key function of picking the church’s sixth primate.

The election of a new archbishop is being conducted ahead of the official exit of Dr Wabukala as the head of the church in Kenya in June.

Those in the race to succeed Wabukala are bishops Moses Masamba Nthuka (Mbere Diocese), James Ochiel (Southern Nyanza Diocese) and Joel Waweru (Nairobi Diocese). Others are Lawrence Dena (Malindi Diocese), Jackson Ole Sapit (Kericho Diocese) and Julius Wanyoike (Thika Diocese).

By 2pm today, one of the six bishops will be declared the archbishop-elect and await the consecration and enthronement to be conducted on July 3, when he will officially assume the reins of the Archbishop of the Province of Kenya, who also doubles as the bishop of the All Saints Cathedral diocese.

Speaking to The Standard yesterday, ACK Chancellor Tom Onyango, who also doubles as the Electoral College chairman, said the new archbishop could be known as early as 1pm.

“The process officially starts at 10am. We expect to have concluded the polls by 1pm after which we will announce the sixth head of the Anglican Church of Kenya,” said Mr Onyango, who will oversee the election and act as the returning officer.

The Electoral College of the Province comprises five members from each of the 38 dioceses in the country, who form what is referred to as the diocesan synod.

The five include the diocesan bishop, two members of the clergy elected at the diocese level, usually of the opposite gender and two members of the laity preferably also a man and a woman.

 DIOCESAN SYNODS

“Apart from the five members from each of the 38 diocesan synods, the electoral college also has an extra 12 delegates from All Saints Cathedral, who will participate in the elections,” Onyango explained.

Wabukala’s successor will be determined by 196 delegates, since the six candidates are not eligible to vote.

The provost in-charge of the All Saints Cathedral, Samuel Wainaina, yesterday said that they had made all the necessary arrangements for the elections.

“As the host, I can confirm that the venue is ready. We will have a holy communion service with the candidates and the members of the electoral college starting at 8.30am after which we will have a tea break before elections begin,” said Rev Wainaina.

After the tea break, Wainaina said, only members of the electoral college and the candidates will be allowed back into the church’s main sanctuary where the polls will be conducted.

The church’s provincial secretary, Rosemary Mbogo, who will also be overseeing the elections, said a strict mechanism will be employed to ensure that only genuine delegates are allowed into the election venue.

“It will be a closed-door session after the church service. The doors will be opened once the process is over,” said Rev Canon Mbogo.

Voting will be by secret ballot. Unless any of the six candidates manages to garner a two-thirds majority in the first round and thus be declared the archbishop-elect, the delegates will hold several rounds of voting, with the candidate garnering the least number of votes eliminated.

“The elimination process will continue unless we get a candidate garnering a two-thirds majority within the first round,” Wainaina said.

Two of the candidates in the race who spoke to The Standard said they were ready to accept the outcome of the election and support whoever among them that would be chosen by the delegates to lead the Church.

 TRANSFORMATIVE LEADER

“I am open to the will of God, which I am sure will be expressed through the delegates who will participate in the election. The Anglican Church needs a transformative leader, but one who will unite the Church as the body of Christ and also help in uniting the country,” said Bishop Nthuka.

“The spirit of God will give direction. Whatever the outcome, I ask my colleague candidates to accept the verdict and work as a team to reposition our church and recapture the glory of the Kingdom of God,” he added.

Bishop Wanyoike, explained that the archbishop does not only lead the Anglican community but also represents the rest of Kenyans, as they play a pivotal role in what happens in the country.

“It is up to the voters to do the best for the church and the Anglican community. It will be out of their desires and prayers that the best among us will be bestowed the spiritual authority to lead the church in the right way,” said Wanyoike.