A storm is brewing in the Anglican Church of Kenya's Katakwa Diocese after members of the cathedral congregation openly rejected the election of a new bishop, citing serious allegations of corruption and a break with long-standing traditions.
The congregants, who have taken their frustrations to the streets, were seen removing inscriptions from the cathedral's main gate and walls in a dramatic show of defiance. According to church members who spoke to our news desk, they were completely taken aback when they learned that the election had been conducted in Amagoro, which goes against everything they have known for years.
One elderly congregant who did not want to be named told us that for as long as they can remember, all major diocesan functions including the elections of the three previous bishops have always been held at Katakwa Cathedral. "We don't understand why this time they decided to change the rules and take everything to Amagoro," he said, shaking his head in disappointment.
But the anger among the faithful runs much deeper than just the venue of the election. The congregants claim that despite Katakwa being officially recognized as the diocesan cathedral, it has been left behind when it comes to development projects. They are accusing church leaders of channelling most resources and projects to Amagoro, where the diocesan offices are based, leaving the cathedral congregation to feel like second-class citizens in their own church.
Adding salt to injury is the fact that Katakwa Archdeaconry has never produced a bishop despite hosting the cathedral for all these years. Church members had high hopes that this time around, their time had finally come, only to be disappointed once again. "We have hosted the cathedral for decades and yet we have never been given this honour. We thought this was our moment," said a female congregant who was part of the protest.
The congregants have now issued a stern warning that the consecration of the bishop-elect, Dr. Ven. Vitalis Job Ekuru, will not take place at the cathedral until their grievances are properly addressed. They made it clear that they are not about to allow the ceremony to proceed while their concerns remain unresolved.
In a plea for calm, the group has called upon Archbishop Jackson Olesapit to step in and restore peace and unity in the diocese. They believe the Archbishop's intervention is urgently needed to bring all parties to the table and find a lasting solution before things get out of hand.
As the standoff continues, all eyes are now on the church leadership to see how they will handle this growing crisis that threatens to tear the diocese apart.
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