Bishop Yego set to hang collar after 45 years at helm of AIC

AIC Presiding Bishop Silas Yego with former President Daniel Moi.

After 45 years in church leadership, African Inland Church (AIC) presiding Bishop Silas Misoi Yego will retire in December.

Rev Yego, 70, will hand over the reins to a new leader after an illustrious career that saw him rub shoulders with high profile Kenyans, among them former President Daniel arap Moi. This group has been quite supportive of the church for years.

Deputy President William Ruto is among leaders he regularly interacts with. He also interacted with former powerful Cabinet minister, the late Nicholas Biwott and former Rift Valley politician Ezekiel Barng’etuny (also deceased).

“I will retire as AIC Kenya presiding bishop with effect from December 31, 2019. Apparently, I have been elected unopposed despite the looming retirement. Though I am being prevailed upon from many quotas to continue leading the church, I have decided that another person should take up the mantle,” said the prelate in an exclusive interview with The Standard.

Church growth

Yego has served as the AIC Kenya bishop for the past 18 years, a journey marked with great developmental strides in terms of church growth and initiation of development projects. However, he was also not spared leadership wrangles.

He was at the helm of the church when AIC experienced its greatest expansion, assisted by its proximity to power.

The cleric noted that his religious life took a new turn after he met retired Moi.

“In 1984 at a wedding ceremony I presided over in Eldama Ravine, Mzee Moi happened to have been among the guests. My sermon happened to have personally uplifted the President though he never mentioned it at that time until two years later during the graduation ceremony of AIC Kenya pastors at Pwani Bible College,” he recalled.

Apparently, Bishop Yego was leading the sermon and President Moi was the chief guest and the bishop’s message once again impressed the Head of State.

“After the graduation ceremony, the President’s handlers came looking for me. I was shocked because I thought I must have said something that had offended him. I was taken to Mombasa State House where the President was waiting for me,” he narrated.

“After exchanging greetings, my nervousness notwithstanding, the President said he had been closely following my religious teachings and the messages had impressed him.

“He said he was impressed by my preaching and encouraged me to soldier on in God’s work so that it could bring prosperity and harmony in the country,” recalled Bishop Yego, while referring to his first meeting with President Moi.

The President then issued express orders to then State House Comptroller Abraham Kiptanui to give him direct access to State House.

“After the Mombasa meeting, I would then frequent State House where together with President Moi, we would immerse ourselves in Bible teachings, meditate on the Word, and sing before concluding in a prayer. This is a tradition we have maintained,” he said.

Yego said their bond developed further when he was chosen to be among the clergy to pray during the national holidays.

“President Moi has in a big way assisted the growth of the church in Kenya because of his generous contributions. He believes that through God’s grace, one can lead and live,” said the father of four.

He also recalled the fist time he met DP Ruto. It was at a petrol station and his car had run out of fuel. As he pleaded with the attendant to fuel his car and let him pay later, Ruto, who happened to be around the petrol station, overheard the conversation.

“The DP who was then Eldoret North MP heard me begging for fuel. He came and told the attendant to fill my car and that he would pay. He even offered me lunch,” recalled the bishop.

AIC, one of the largest and oldest churches in Kenya, was founded by late Rev Peter Scott in 1895.

The cleric stated that there will be no leadership vacuum since his deputy will act in the meantime.

“As I retire, I pride in the fact that I helped grow the church within and internationally. When I took over as the presiding bishop in 2001, we had 3,800 churches but the numbers have soared to more than 9,000,” he said.

Yego said AIC Kenya is now more united than before even though there were tumultuous times in 2008 when disunity reared its ugly head.

In 2018, High Court Judge Chacha Mwita dismissed a case filed by an excommunicated member of the church, David Mbuvi, who had claimed to be the general overseer.

Justice Mwita ruled that Yego and the two others were the recognised leaders of the church; the ones registered by the Registrar of Societies.

“There were some individuals led by Rev David Mbuvi who wanted me out, claiming I was illegally ordained as the presiding bishop. The matter ended up in court but the judge quashed it. The journey has been challenging but the grace of God has been sufficient,” he stated.

His farm

Born in Lelmokwo, Nandi County, on January 1, 1950 before migrating to his Naisambu farm in Trans Nzoia County, Bishop Yego said more than 20 communities across Kenya are members of AIC Kenya.

“We named it AIC Kenya after we opened other churches in the neighbouring countries of Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Ethiopia and soon South Sudan. Diversity has brought strength and unity in our church today,” said the bishop.

Yego said during his tenure, he started development projects that rake in upto Sh3 million income per month besides increasing Bible colleges to 42 from 13.

“I will retire and concentrate on my Support a Missionary NGO that aims at fostering the church missionaries across the globe. I will also offer consultancy services to pastors and church leaders besides farming,” he added.