One congregant is nursing serious injuries after chaos broke out at the Kenya Assemblies of God (KAG ) Sagana Church in Kirinyaga County.
Bishop Ben Irungu from Mount Kenya completed a liturgy when congregators asked to know who would be their pastor.
“Bishop before you conclude the service we are aware today is a big day for us because you are ordaining our new pastor because our pastor Rev.William Wachira died in March this year,” a church member identified as Francis Gachau.
The congregation backed Reverend Esther Wachira, whom they hoped to succeed her late husband as pastor.
“Huyu mama alianza kanisa na bwana yake, sasa wakati Kanis imesimama wanataka kupatia mtu mwingine, hatutakubali,” a section of worshippers said.
They accused Bishop Ben Irungu, who was officiating the service, of favoring Pastor Nahashon Maina, who was close to the late pastor at the time.
“We prayed for 21 days and settled for Rev, Esther Wachira. Right now they want to ordain Pastor maina ,we won’t allow this,” the church deacon said.
A scuffle then erupted in church which degenerated into chaos. In the aftermath, they discovered that one of the deacons, only identified as Gachau was bleeding.
“Pastor Maina ndiye amenigonga, mimi nilikuwa nasimama kuuliza swali akaniumiza, hata kama nitauawa, sisi tunataka pastor Esther Wachira,” was quoted by CitizenTv.
Police officers from Sagana police station arrived at the church and calmed the situation before closing the church.
“We will summon church leadership to explain to us what chaos was about,” a senior police officer said
In other news, tension was high in Kombedu area within Kisumu West sub-County on Friday following demos over abductions of a resident.
Amos Ochieng is said to have been abducted on Wednesday night when he went to take a bath just within the compound. According to his wife Jemmimah Atieno, he went to look for her husband after taking a long in the bathroom but could not find him anywhere.
“I looked for him everywhere, but he was nowhere to be found. I got worried because he had earlier told me that his life was in danger.
Soon after they found out one of their own was missing, locals engaged the police in running battles demanding that Ochieng who was abducted from his house is found alive and safe. Police were forced to use teargas canisters to disperse the residents who brought businesses in the area to a standstill, forcing hardworking entrepreneurs to close down their shops.
