Anglican bishops dither on Draft Constitution

By Peter Atsiaya

Anglican bishops are divided on whether to back or reject the Proposed Constitution at the referendum.

ACK Maseno North Diocese Bishop Simon Oketch differed with the Head of the church Archbishop Eliud Wabukhala over the latter’s call on Christians to support the Draft.

Bishop Oketch said Dr Wabukhala’s remarks were personal and not the official church position.

"Our stand to prevail upon the faithful to reject the document at the referendum has not changed," said Oketch.

He went on: "This is the message I gave my congregation on Easter Sunday in Kakamega and we shall not change because the head of the church thinks otherwise.

He, however, said the archbishop was free to air his views.

"We have not been consulted as a synod over which stand the church should take and I urge our faithful not to take Wabukhala’s position as that of the church.

But head of Maseno South Diocese Bishop Mwai Abiero supported Wabukhala.

Efforts of kenyans

While addressing the congregation at St Stephen’s Church in Kisumu Town during the Easter service on Sunday, Abiero noted that the Proposed Constitution was better than the current Constitution, and rejecting it would be smashing efforts of Kenyans to get rid of the current oppressive laws.

Bishop Abiero, however, steered clear of the clause on abortion and Kadhis’ courts, which some church leaders are citing as basis for their rejection of the document.

"There is room for amending the Draft. Even God amended the commandments from ten to two that stated love your neighbour as you love yourself," said the prelate.

He noted that Christians should read the document and understand it before making a decision.