Tiriki council of elders imposes fines on bishops in deadly Vihiga church row
Police keep guard at the Israel Church Nineveh in Vihiga on August 9, 2015 after chaos erupted resulting in the deaths of four people. The Tiriki council of elders has imposed fines on two bishops involved in the conflict. PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Four people died when chaos erupted in the church after goons ambushed worshippers on August 9, 2015.
- The council said it was against their traditions for any person other than the initiates to shed blood during the month-long circumcision period.
- Mr Bulemi defended the decision to fine the two feuding church leaders through their traditions.
- Already, NCCK has offered to help resolve the conflict at the Vihiga church.
Tiriki council of elders has slapped a fine on Archbishop John Mweresa Kivuli II and Archbishop-elect Evans Jadiva of the Vihiga-based Israel Church Nineveh following a conflict that led to the shedding of blood during the community’s circumcision season.
The council, which conducts its business as Tiriki Union East Africa, through their secretary-general Javan Bulemi, said it was against their traditions for any person other than the initiates to shed blood during the month-long circumcision period that is expected to end on August 27.
Archbishop Mweresa was fined a bull and two sheep for the blood shed in his church three weeks ago.
Mr Bulemi said in a statement, “Archbishop Mweresa Kivuli II has been fined one bull and two sheep.”
Archbishop-elect Jadiva was fined one bull and four he-goats.
Four people died when chaos erupted in the church after goons ambushed worshippers and supporters of archbishop-elect Evans Jadiva at the church headquarters at Jebrok on August 9, 2015.
When contacted by Nation, Archbishop Mweresa vowed not to pay any fine imposed on him through traditional beliefs.
His competitor Mr Jadiva was unavailable for comment.
CHURCH ISSUE
Archbishop Mweresa said: “This is a Church issue whose resolution can only be made by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) and not a traditional grouping.”
He added: “I was affected during the fight. My house was burnt down and my wife seriously injured. Why am I being fined?”
While dismissing the decision to fine him, the church leader said he was still nursing the scars he suffered during the attack that happened about three weeks ago.
“I was not invited to any meeting where the decision to fine me was reached,” the clergyman said.
But Mr Bulemi defended the decision to fine the two feuding church leaders through their traditions.
“This is in line with Tiriki circumcision and customary law that prohibits fighting and bloodshed during the circumcision period,” he said.
The two leaders have two weeks to pay the fine failure to which a curse would be declared on them.
The church’s headquarters at Jebrok Sunday remained under police guard. No church service was held
Already, NCCK has offered to help resolve the conflict at the Vihiga church.
