Split in Migori Nomiya Church as faithful reject bishop

George Otieno, an official of Migori Nomiya Church addressing journalists outside the locked church on January 21, 2018. The church is facing a major split after members rejected the leadership of Bishop Hezekiel Ageng’o. PHOTO | ELISHA ODHIAMBO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • On Sunday, the faithful found the church doors locked and they were unable to conduct their worship.

  • Security officers were called into the church compound to avert any clashes.

  • A church member, Ruth Achieng’, said  they were “seriously  feeling frustrated  by the leadership  of the bishop”.

A major split has occurred at the Migori Nomiya Church diocese after members rejected the leadership of Bishop Hezekiel Ageng’o.

They claimed the bishop is running the church like personal property “with opaque financial records and unilaterally suspending members with divergent views”.

On Sunday, the faithful found the church doors locked and they were unable to conduct their worship.

“This bishop must leave, come rain or sunshine...we will not accept to be tossed back and forth like children. The church assets cannot be accounted for,” said Mr George Otieno, an official of the church.

Security officers were called into the church compound to avert any clashes.

SPLIT INTO TWO

Already, the church headquarters has recommended it be split into two to restore calm.

“To avoid such incidents in future, the synod, after consultations, has considered it wise to separate the two factions from sharing the same compound of worship.

“The role of the church is to provide spiritual nourishment to its followers and not physical confrontations as [has] been witnessed in a number of occasions at the Migori diocese,” said a letter written by the church’s chief administrative secretary, Mr Elisha Nyamwaya.

However, the church members told Mr Nyamwaya off.

BISHOP THE PROBLEM

“We do not have any dispute amongst ourselves…bishop is the problem and he is the one who must leave…we have never had peace in this church for the last two years,” said Mr Christopher Ochieng’, the church’s secretary.

“There is no valid reason to create another church,” he added.

But Bishop Agen’go dismissed the accusations against him, claiming that only a few people are seeking to sow seeds of discord in the church.

“I am very innocent and clean. My accusers are the ones who are spoiling the church,” he said.

A church member, Ruth Achieng’, said  they were “seriously  feeling frustrated  by the leadership  of the bishop”.