New bishop promises to lead with truth, justice
People Daily Correspondent
A long serving priest Rev Rose Okeno, 52, becomes the first Anglican bishop in the country.
During her election, she got more than three-quarters of the electoral college delegates, beating two male contenders.
Okeno was dressed in purple cassock before she was enthroned as the new Bishop of Butere Diocese.
The ceremony was marked with pomp and colour as the ACK choir entertained guest with a mix of religious tunes blended by Luhya lyric Endi Owelihe Liomwami in the ceremony led by the Head of the Anglican church in Kenya, Bishop Jackson ole Sapit.
Upon her consecration, she promised to respect, uphold, protect and maintain the rights, privileges and liberties of the Diocese.
“I will lead with truth, justice and love not lording it over to God’s heritage, but showing myself in all things as an example to the flock of Christ,” said Bishop Okeno.
Prior to the consecration, she was the acting bishop following the resignation of Bishop Tim Wambunya in September last year.
Okeno has over the many years served as the dean of women ministry in the ACK Diocesan Chester.
“As a chief pastor you are to share with your fellow Bishops a special responsibility to maintain the unity of the church,”said Sapit as he welcomed the new Bishop elect
Earlier this year, the Rev Emily Onyango was ordained as an assistant bishop of Bondo, a diocese on the edge of Lake Victoria.
The 59-year-old scholar and researcher became Kenya’s first female Anglican bishop and the first in the Anglican church in East and Central Africa.
