Debate Over New Anglican Archbishops in Kenya Continues

A debate in the Anglican Church of Kenya over the number of archbishops to be appointed as part of a structural shape-up still fails to find agreement.

Bungoma bishop Eliud Wabukhala said yesterday the number would be decided by all the members.

“They will do so through the synod and committees,” said the bishop, who is also the chairman of National Council of Churches of Kenya.

Bishop Wabukhala denied earlier press reports stating that the church could have as many as five archbishops and one primate in two years if the synod gives the go ahead to new changes proposed by a church committee. He reiterated that the decision would be made by the synod, the church’s top decision-making body.

He also refused to comment on reports stating that more bishops would be appointed for mission work in remote parts of Kenya.

Bishop Wabukhala said that the appointment of the new archbishops would be done according to constitutional guidelines.

The Anglican Church currently has one archbishop in Kenya.

The planned reforms are, according to the bishop, the result of “natural growth” by the church, which is the second-largest denomination after the Catholic Church.

Bishop Wabukhala said the idea has been in the offing for a long time.

Recommendations by a five-man committee, led by Bishop Wabukhala, included streamlining 29 dioceses into larger regional dioceses.

New bishops are also to be sent to reconnect remote communities with which Church ties have loosened.

The bishop also commented on the draft of the national constitution, saying that the NKK would wait until the finalised version had been released by attorney-general Amos Wako before a decision would be made on whether to participate in the referendum or not.

He cautioned, however: “We should not judge the Draft before it comes out. When it comes, we shall read it through before deciding our next move.”