AIC Kenya elects new presiding Bishop

Bishop Abraham Mulwa elected AIC Kenya Presiding Bishop.

Nairobi Area Africa Inland Church (AIC) Kenya Bishop Abraham Mulwa has been elected the church's Presiding Bishop following retirement of Bishop Silas Yego last December.

Bishop Yego has served as the AIC Kenya Bishop for the past 18 years.

In an election conducted yesterday, and presided over by retired Bishop Paul Raimoi at AIC Milimani, Nairobi, Bishop Mulwa garnered 68 votes to emerge the church’s presiding bishop. His challenger Geoffrey Gichure from Central Area Church Council got 16 votes.

84 delegates

Up to 84 delegates drawn from across the country participated in the election, in which three representatives from each region took part.

Rev Paul Kirui from South Rift region was elected as the church’s deputy presiding bishop after garnering 68 votes against Nandi Area Bishop Patrice Chumba's 16 votes.

Outgoing Presiding Bishop Yego told The Standard he was satisfied with the peaceful transition. “Normally, as a church, during an election there are no campaigns, but the delegates pray to get a church representative who is then elected in a secret ballot since all the 28 bishops from the area church council are eligible for the top seat,” said Yego.

“I am challenging the new officials to continue expanding and take care of the church, as they continue propagating the message of Jesus Christ and pray for peace and social justice to reign in the country,” he said.

He added that he was satisfied with his tenure at the church's helm. “As I retire, I take pride in the fact that I helped grow the church within and internationally. When I took over as the presiding bishop in 2001, we had 3,800 churches, but the numbers have soared to more than 9,000,” he said.

The incoming prelate, who is set to be installed on January 26 at AIC Milimani, said the peaceful transition was a tribute to his predecessor.

“As the incoming presiding bishop, I will improve from where Bishop Yego has left and lead the church in propagating the gospel for peace and harmony. I will use the gospel to ask Kenyans to be more vigilant, hardworking, peaceful and cohesive for a harmonious environment to improve our economy,” he said.

Bishop Mulwa said his mission would be advocacy for social justice in the county under the motto: "Do unto others what you expect to be done unto you."

“Kenya is largely a Christian nation, and we need to reexamine our ways and serve God faithfully to enable us fight the societal evil currently facing the country. As a nation, we need to turn our ways to God for our paths to be strengthened,” he said.

AIC has been in Kenya for the last 125 years.