Church leader suspended as election dispute jolts diocese

Reverend Kenneth Wachianga. He has been suspended over claims of promoting schism. [File, Standard]

A stalemate in Maseno West Diocese Anglican is threatening to divide the church barely a month after they held elections to replace long serving Bishop Otieno Wasonga.

The Bishop who is supposed to be retiring by September 2019 has served for over 29 years at the Diocese.

An election held last month seems to be dividing the once united clergy following claims that it was not free and fair.

Reverend John Godia, who was elected new Bishop after competing against Canon Francis Owino and Professor James Jimbo will be consecrated on September 1, 2019.

A team of 23 people from the Electoral College took part in the voting process that appears to have divided the clergy, forcing other contestants to go to court.

Out of the 23, 16 of them were from the Diocese while seven were from the province as appointed by Archbishop Ole Sapit.

So bad is the situation that Bishop Wasonga, who is currently in the US, has suspended a Reverend from the Diocese over claims of promoting schism. In a letter – seen by the Saturday Standard – addressed to Reverend Kenneth Wachianga, dated May 30, 2019, the Bishop has accused him of promoting secession, division and disruption of the peaceful life of the Diocese.

“You have persistently, through the print and electronic media threatened to promote division. This is contrary to sworn canonical obedience to the Bishop of Maseno West,” read the letter.

The Bishop has asked all clergy and lay leaders not to allow Rev Wachianga address or minister in church.

Bishop Wasonga insisted that the Reverend will not be recognised as an ACK clergy until he repents and changes his ways.

“Your license to officiate in the Diocese and any part of the province has been suspended. After all you have chosen not to serve the Diocese in any capacity for several years and opted for an NGO which you have refused to formally attach to the Diocese,” read the letter.

But yesterday the Reverend denied claims by the Bishop that he was planning to split the Diocese.

Rev Wachianga said that he will respond to the letter from the Bishop on Monday morning.  He however argued that the Bishop should have formed a tribunal to investigate the allegations leveled against him before the suspension. 

“He has not followed the required procedure. If he did not want to form a tribunal, he should have called me for a round table fellowship to discuss these matters, “ said Rev Wachianga.

There will be an inter-parties court hearing on June 14 in Nairobi on the election petition. 

Cases of politicians being accused of causing confusion and infiltrating the church during the campaign and election period erupted as a section of religious leaders in the Diocese claimed the process was flawed and not done in accordance with the will of the congregation.