Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Kenyans.co.ke
Published on 2024-02-26 09:25:12
President William Ruto commended former President Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday for his role in bringing together the leaders of the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) who were embroiled in leadership disputes. The president spoke at the Centenary Celebrations of the Church in Kasarani, acknowledging Uhuru’s efforts in uniting the leaders, a task that he himself believed was beyond his capability.
During his time as Deputy President, Ruto revealed that he sought Uhuru’s assistance after a delegation from the church approached him to help resolve a dispute. Ruto admitted to being acquainted with both factions of the church leaders and acknowledged that his interactions may have inadvertently contributed to the conflicts within the church.
“I want to thank former President Uhuru because he played a significant role in bringing us to this point,” stated President Ruto. He explained that the friendships he had with the warring leaders created a dilemma in finding a resolution, prompting him to turn to Uhuru for mediation. Uhuru successfully mediated and united the church, putting an end to the longstanding disputes.
The AIPCA Church, which separated from the Roman Catholic Church a century ago, was primarily made up of former Mau Mau fighters and Africans who rejected the colonial associations of the Catholic Church. The leadership disputes within the church intensified in 2017 when outgoing Bishop Amos Kabuthu appointed Archbishop Frederick Wang’ombe as the church leader, despite the election of Archbishop Julius Njoroge Gitau.
As a result, Julius Njoroge Gitau broke away from the church to form his own faction, AIPCK, which gained the support of over 200 churches. After seventeen years of wrangling, the church leadership agreed to hold elections where each leader was expected to accept the outcome, bringing an end to the disputes.
President Ruto’s remarks came during the celebrations at the AIPCA Church, where he emphasized the importance of unity and credited Uhuru for his instrumental role in uniting the church. The event marked a significant milestone for the AIPCA Church as they came together as a united body, thanks to the intervention of former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Overall, President Ruto’s words highlighted the importance of reconciliation and collaboration in resolving conflicts within the church and achieving unity among its leaders. The successful mediation by former President Uhuru demonstrated the power of leadership and diplomacy in fostering harmony and peace within the church community.
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