Three battle it out for vacant Nyahururu ACK bishop position

Three candidates will be on the ballot for the election of the third bishop of the Nyahururu Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) diocese this Saturday.

The Diocesan administrative Secretary Reverend Peter Muiru yesterday refused to divulge any information about polls set to take place at the Church Cathedral in Nyahururu town.

“Any information about the election can only be released by the Archbishop (Dr Jackson Ole Sapit),” Muiru said.

But some faithful who spoke on condition of anonymity said the three in the ballot are the current vicar general of the Diocese Githu Ugunyu, Samuel Wanjau and a chaplain with KDF Samuel Gachathi
The person who will be elected will replace Bishop Stephen Kabora, who vacated office after retiring last December. The Bishop elect will be consecrated in June this year.

New ACK regulation requires that election of new bishop is done after the retiring bishop has vacated office to avoid influence of the polls outcome.

The new regulation coupled with the fact that the Nyahururu Diocese currently has no chancellor following the death of Nyahururu lawyer Kariuki Mwangi makes it difficult for the faithful to know names of the candidates eyeing the bishop’s seat.

The diocese covering Nyandarua and Laikipia counties has had two bishops since its creation from the then larger Nakuru ACK Diocese in 1998.

The first bishop Rt Rev Charles Gaikia Gaita retired in 2013 ushering in Rt Rev Kabora whose retirement ceremony last December was presided over by the ACK Archbishop Ole Sapit. He stressed the need for the Diocesan faithful to remain united even after the elections.

“The ultimate goal of Christian ministry is not the end of the tenure, but eternal life. With the process of succession underway, we should strive to safeguard this ministry and invite the spirit of God to choose the next Bishop. Despite the outcome of the process, you should all work together,” the Archbishop said during the ceremony.