Court orders ACK to conduct elections for Mt Kenya bishop

The High Court in Nyeri has ordered the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit to start the election process for the new bishop of Mt Kenya West diocese by November 13, 2024.

Justice Kizito Magare directed Ole Sapit to kick-start the nomination process ahead of the exercise.

“The first respondent is ordered by consent to commence the elections of the bishop of the ACK Diocese of Mt Kenya West on or before November 13 by commencing the nominations of the said elections,” justice Marage ordered.

The diocese’s long-serving bishop Joseph Kagunda retired on April 14 this year, but his replacement has been marred by prolonged court battles over how the election process should be conducted.

In the lawsuit, Archbishop Ole Sapit, the Provincial synod, ACK Mt Kenya West synod and the registered trustees of the ACK were named as respondents respectively.

The retired bishop Kagunda had been named as an interested party.

Pharis Muriithi, one of the church’s faithful, had moved to court seeking orders to compel the respondents to adhere to the ACK Constitution.

They were represented by lawyers Elias Masika and Wachira Nderitu.

Justice Magare, in his orders, struck out the retired bishop as an interested party in the matter.

Muriithi, in his sworn affidavit dated February 27, told the court that the respondents had failed to commence election process of the new bishop that was supposed to be undertaken on March 15 in accordance to the ACK Constitution.

Muriithi was represented in court by Nyeri based lawyer Wabandi Gacheru.

Ole Sapit has already appointed Murang’a South diocese, Bishop Julius Karanu as a commissary to oversee operations of Mt Kenya West diocese before the election of the new bishop is held.

During retired bishop Kagunda’s 20-year tenure, the diocese was faced with leadership challenges.

The candidates eyeing for the bishop seat include Rev Sospeter Kuria and Archdeacons Isaac Wanjii, Samuel Mwangi, Peter Ngumo, Gerald Muriithi, Charles Itegi and Edwin Mbiiri. According to the election process, the members of the diocese’s synod are supposed to pick 16 representatives amongst themselves so as to participate in electing the next bishop.

A synod is the governing council of the church, which consists of the House of Bishops, the Clergy and the Laity.

The candidates will be shortlisted by the church’s committee. The committee will then come up with three candidates who will compete at the ballot.

After the election of the new diocese head, a winner will automatically assume the position of bishop-elect.

Rev Kuria, who also doubles up as a lawyer, says he seeks to introduce his expertise as a lawyer and a priest to the Church.

He has served as the Church’s priest for 17 years and believes he also has the capacity to solve legal battles.

“With my legal expertise on labour laws, the diocese will not experience legal battles as it has experienced there before.

‘‘My experience in human resources management will help me address the clergy and other employees’ issues amicably,” Rev Kuria said.

Additionally “I will bring a lot of wealth to the church as a priest and a lawyer by embracing the adherence of scriptures as well as the legal system. I have been doing pro bono legal awareness forums not only in ACK but also in other churches so as to promote ecumenical cohesion,” he said.