Reverend Moses Serem has been elected the new Bishop of the African Inland Church, Nandi region.
Serem, who was the assistant head of the region, replaces Bishop Patrice Chumba who retired after 15 years.
The 52-year-old priest will be deputised by the Reverend James Mosonik who was his competitor.
Serem and Mosonik got eight votes each at the polls conducted at Kapsabet Bible College, the church’s regional headquarters.
They said they agreed on mutual understanding that they share the spoils of the results to ensure that the church remained united after the elections.
Chumba declined to participate in the elections after a section of AIC Nandi region faithful went to court seeking an interpretation of the church's constitution regarding the polls.
The move forced Chumba to step down to pave the way for the elections that saw his deputy elected.
He had earlier served as AIC North Rift region Bishop before it was fragmented into several regions with different heads.
The outgoing bishop is credited for creating a human resource department that put all priests and pastors on a salaried payroll and gave them health insurance and a pension scheme.
Nandi region became the first AIC area to ensure that all priests had employment letters.
He also established an advisory board to oversee the activities of the church and advise the bishop on various issues.
This put an end to a one-man show and dictatorial kind of leadership within the church.
The two new heads said they have inherited a modern region, whose pastors are treated with respect.
In the past, it was the church council that determined what priests earned.
However, the team faces the challenge of finishing a 5,000-capacity church, whose construction stalled.
