Judge issues summons in church fight
What you need to know:
- Bishop David Mbuvi was summoned to appear in court with 12 other members to explain why his alleged rebel group declined to obey court orders
- Mr Justice Isaac Lenaola had on January 11, 2013 ruled that Mr Mbuvi had been excommunicated alongside two pastors.
The endless leadership wrangles in the African Inland Church was a notch higher on Tuesday after a judge summoned alleged rebels to explain why they should not be jailed for disobeying court orders.
Bishop David Mbuvi, who has been in constant battles with Bishop Silas Yego over management and control of the church, was summoned to appear in court with 12 other members to explain why his alleged rebel group declined to obey court orders.
Mr Justice Isaac Lenaola had on January 11, 2013 ruled that Mr Mbuvi had been excommunicated alongside two pastors yet, according to Bishop Yego, the group continued to purport to be bishop and clerics.
INTERFERING
On September 12, 2012 the court also barred Bishop Mbuvi and his followers from interfering with the affairs of the AIC in the national, regional, district or local church council and even any branch in the country.
Through lawyer Conrad Maloba, Bishop Yego filed a contempt of court case against Bishop Mbuvi for disobeying Justice Lenaola’s order as well as interfering with the activities of the church.
Mr Maloba told Justice George Odunga that Bishop Yego was seeking protection for bona fide officials, pastors and congregation of the church while exercising his right to worship and perform duties in AIC premises countrywide.
The judge issued the summons to appear in court for the alleged excommunicated members for contempt.
