Akaranga now meets Nineveh church leaders

Leaders are trying to reconcile African Israel Nineveh Church leaders whose followers clashed a few weeks ago leading to the deaths of four people.

County Commissioner Boaz Cherutich and Governor Moses Akaranga have met the leaders in what they said is a series of peace meetings that are set to continue.

Last week, Tiriki elders met a section of leaders from the church, in what they called disciplinary action for shedding blood during the circumcision month.

“We met the church leaders in a closed door meeting. What we discussed cannot be divulged to the public as per now, but we hope a permanent solution will be found on the same after we are through,” Mr Cherutich said.

The church’s headquarters at Jebrok in Hamisi Constituency was closed indefinitely as it was the battle ground pro-Archbishop John Mweresa Kivuli II and Evans Chadiva, who wants to replace the latter.

Six people who were arrested have been arraigned in Vihiga Law Courts and charged with causing disturbance and destruction of property. No suspects have been charged with the murder of victims yet.

Betty Onyango, the Church’s general treasurer, who lost her husband, who will be buried on Saturday at Nyakach, still recounts horrific last moments she spent with him.

Mrs Onyango was at Archbishop Mweresa’s home when his house was set ablaze by a mob. She escaped death by a whisker, after they were locked in the house before it was set on fire.

“When police came and rescued us from the house, that was now full of smoke, I was already unconscious.

“When I regained my consciousness, the first person I asked about was my husband, and I was told that he had been rushed to Vihiga Hospital in Mbale in a critical condition,” she said.

She added: “When I last saw him, we were running for shelter in the bishop’s house.”

Isaack Onyango, 53, was a radiographer at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital before he met his death at the church’s compound.

Streamline issues

Nandi County based Bishop Zebedayo Madegwa was the other casualty who succumbed to injuries at the church’s compound and was buried last Monday.

The other two people that died have also been buried.

“As some of the officials of the church, we always gather at Archbishop’s residence on some days for prayers and streamlining other issues pertaining to the church.

“On Sunday, we had already been told that we should not attend the meeting that was supposed to take place in church as it was illegal, so we were just at Archbishop’s residence,” she said.

Mweresa maintains he is keen to see justice prevail as peace is sought in the church.