•Two churches that split at the height of power wrangles and competition for members
•It's not over yet, some members have gone to court to block unity initiative, arguing that all the archbishops should be sacked
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
The African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa and the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Kenya yesterday announced their merger at AIPCA headquarters in Bahati, Kiambu county.
Isaac Maina Wandere, anointed as patron of both AIPCK and AIPCA, had sought to back Archbishop Fredrick Wang’ombe who controls more than 1,500 AIPCA churches.
Power struggles caused a section to break away, forming AIPCK, led by Archbishop Julius Njoroge.
Njoroge controls about 200 churches.
But with the merger, the church leadership said it will invite Njoroge into the fold to accommodate all members in unity and amity.
"We are no longer rivals, we must work together as brothers and sisters," Archbishop Samson Muthuri said.
"We will continue to talk with those who are still opposing the union."
During the reconciliation attended by politicians, church brass agreed to the bury the hatchet and do God's work together, showing good-will and respect for the Church, and efforts of President Uhuru Kenyatta to unite them.
Reunification is still facing hurdles as some members have sued to block the unity initiative, arguing that all the archbishops should be sacked.
But Wang'ombe said they were committed to stick together.
"We are ready to sacrifice anything for the unity of the church. We can unite and we will not fight again," he said, adding, "We will be in churc against tomorrow (today) [to defend ourselves."
Archbishop John Mwaura of AIPCK urged the congregation not to be afraid to speak up about problems in the church.
"We need people who are willing to sacrifice themselves and speak up for the sake of peace," he said.
Murang’a Woman Representative Sabina Chege said, "If politicians can stand together for the sake of Kenyans, then what about the church? Don't take the church to court, sit and talk," she said.
Chege was accompanied by Planning PS Julius Muia and Nyandarua Finance CEC Mary Mugwanja, among others.
The previous reunification efforts have been fruitless as truces collapsed shortly after signing, due to rivalry and leadership rows said to have been masterminded by an ex-communicated church leader.
In April 2017, a negotiated accord appointed Julius Njoroge as the national leader, while Archbishop Fredrick Wang’ombe as head of finances.
Archbishop Samson Muthuri took over education and training.
A retiring archbishop at the time handed over to Wang’ombe who was elected by some of the bishops. Njoroge was elected by a rival group.
President Uhuru Kenyatta intervened unsuccessfully twice.
The collapsed accord proposed creation of four extra archdioceses, namely Rift Valley, Nairobi, Eastern and Central, and the leadership decentralised to avoid further feuds.
Wang’ombe was to be registered as trustee of AIPCA among others. The church's central board only recognised Wang’ombe’s leadership.