A group of worshippers in Nandi held their Sunday service under a tree after finding their church locked. The more than 200 faithful of Chemnoet Africa Inland Church (AIC) could not access their church premises as its two main doors had more than two padlocks.

According to area Chief Samson Ngetich, there has been a division among the members over leadership disputes.

He said the church that was established 10 years ago comprises two factions, one made up of those supporting AIC Bishop Silas Yego and those backing David Mbuvi.

"We received information from one of the members that they could not access the building and we found out that unknown people had fastened padlocks on the door," he said.

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Ngetich said there is a possibility that those who locked the church were from another faction but said he would liaise with police to find out the suspects.

"It is an offence for individuals to block people from expressing the right of worship. If there is a disagreement, there are options including dialogue and as an administration we shall not accept such," he said.

According to James Bor, a member of the church, there has been rising conflict between those in support of Mbuvi and Yego, adding that what angered most faithful was the recent election of church officials fronted by Mbuvi's faction.

"We were not pleased by Mbuvi's actions of imposing on us officials that we did not elect. I am certain that our plans to support Yego made our counterparts bitter to the extent of locking the church," he added.

He said they were not consulted in the election and called for a fresh exercise, saying it would give the congregation a chance to elect leaders of their choice.

Bor observed that initially, most of the church members were supporting the ideologies fronted by Mbuvi but recently started supporting Yego's ideologies, which he said do not conform to the church.

Gertrude Chepkirui, a faithful, called on the AIC national leadership to intervene, saying the division has created a bad image.