Come May 28th, Will The Next ACK Archbishop of Kenya Come Thika?

Sources close to Thika Town Today revealed that at least eight bishops have shown interest in succeeding Anglican Church of Kenya head Eliud Wabukala who is set to retire on 26^th of June after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 65.

One Bishop who has shown interest in the seat is Thika Diocesan Bishop Julius Njuguna Wanyoike. The immediate former Nairobi Cathedral head who studied in the UK, is credited with growth in congregation.

Bishop Wanyoike, 49, who has served the church for over 28 years at different capacities believes that he is well placed to succeed Wabukala in order to re-invent the church doctrine to gel with the contemporary society.

He believes that the church has a role to play in the day-to-day activities of their congregation if any meaningful ministry was to be administered.

“The church has a critical role in the ecumenical family and its voice must heard in the midst of people's lives. It has its role too on how both the national and county governments are ran. The internal mechanism of the church should always be felt outward for the gospel to have meaning to the congregation,” said Wanyoike.

Speaking at the Thika ACK Cathedral after presiding over the Easter Sunday mass, Bishop Wanyoike said that he would engage ecumenically with other church leaders to advocate for more church presence on matters affecting the masses and bring positive change to the society.

Also in the race is the Rt. Rev Lawrence Dena of Malindi Diocese who is a former ACK provincial secretary.

Rt. Rev Moses Masaba, who heads the Mbeere Diocese, which was carved from Embu Diocese is another candidate to watch out for is the. Bishop Masaba spent several years in the United Kingdom on his doctoral studies.

Another possible candidate for the top seat is the Rt. Rev Timothy Ranji who heads the Diocese of Mt Kenya South. However, his age will likely attract debate given that he will be turning 60 in March.

Bishop Ranji is known for his interest in social-economic development.

Dr Christopher Ruto, bishop of the Diocese of Eldoret is another hopeful. He recently presided over the sub-division of the diocese to form another in Kapsabet.

Rt. Rev James Ochiel, the bishop of Southern Nyanza Diocese is also rumoured to be eying the seat too. The Rev Ochiel is known to be articulate and outspoken and is also considered knowledge able in theology.

Other prospective candidates include the Rt. Rev Joseph ole Sapit of Kericho Diocese and Bishop Joel Waweru of All Saints Cathedral, Nairobi.

190 delegates constituting of bishops from all ACK’s 36 dioceses across the country, two clergymen and an equal number of lay leaders from every diocese will form an electoral college that will elect the next archbishop of the Anglcan Church of Kenya on May 28^th.

Nomination papers for the successful candidates will be opened on 4^th of April 2016.

It is not known if the Archbishop Wabukala will continue in office as chairman of GAFCON. Two retired archbishops, John Chew of Singapore and Peter Jensen of Sydney, have remained active in the GAFCON and Global South movements following their retirement from ecclesial office.