Appointment: NCCK rejects bid to nullify new general secretary
Clement Kamau and Seth Onyango
Reverend Chris Kinyanjui has been handed a lifeline after members of the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) rejected a bid to nullify his appointment as general secretary.
His controversial appointment, which had threatened to divide NCCK, survived after it was established that he had been appointed on June 18 according to procedure.
Until late last evening, his fate hang in the balance as eight non-founding member churches remained adamant to remove him from office and call for election.
But after eight hours of tense closed-door deliberations during the NCCK special Annual General Meeting yesterday behind closed doors, Kinyanjui was offered a lifeline.
NCCK constitution
“After extensive deliberations, the executive committee was satisfied that the NCCK constitution and by-laws were followed during the recruitment of the general secretary- designate, and therefore affirmed its decision to appoint Rev Chris Kinyanjui as the general secretary.
He will assume office on October 1,” said outgoing NCCK general secretary Rev Canon Peter Karanja at a press conference at Jumuia Conference and Country Home in Limuru.
The eight churches that wanted Kinyanjui’s appointment quashed included Friends Church of Kenya, Africa Interior Church, Episcopal Church of Africa, Salvation Army, Church of God East Africa, Kenya Western Territory and the Kenya United Independent Churches.
Some members who spoke to People Daily on condition of anonymity accused Karanja of influencing the appointment of his successor.
“We want democracy at NCCK, the appointment of the general secretary, therefore, cannot be at the whims of an individual. As a church, we should lead by example and that is why we are opposed to Kinyanjui,” said the source on the sidelines of the meeting.
Karanja was under fire as the disgruntled members accused him of handpicking 12 members of the search committee in an effort to micromanage the process.
