The assistant Bishop Charles Muturi of the Anglican church of Kenya (ACK) in Mt Kenya south diocese has been elected as the new bishop elect to replace Bishop timothy Ranji.
Muturi was consecrated on October 2010 to assist Bishop Timothy Ranji who was enthroned as bishop of Mt Kenya south diocese on July 2004 and his leading role came to an end through retirement.
Bishop Ranji decided to hang his boots two years before his retirement time which is mandatory 65 years
The election exercise took place on Saturday at the ACK St. James Cathedral church in Kiambu town with Muturi beating two other candidates who were on the race and was elected unanimously.
Muturi who is now the sixth diocesan bishop is set to be enthroned in December 29 this year at the ACK St. James Cathedral in Kiambu town and will be at the helm for a period of eight years and will be in charge of more than 200 churches in the region.
Speaking after being elected said that the ACK church follows a strategic plan of five years where he will fulfill the plan before the next one is rolled out.
“We have decided with all the clergy in the region that we will work together and there is no changes that will be done but I have seven changes I would like to share first with the clergy before sharing it out of the changes the church will undertake as leaders,” said Muturi.
Muturi said that the election was conducted free and fairly and he will see himself as a team leader and not as the head.
“I will not go home saying that I was elected the leader but I will go home saying that it is God who have called me to serve and I have tasted the job for eight years the time I have been serving with Bishop Ranji and I know the job which is not easy task but through God’s will and the over 200 clergy I will lead and over 100,000 congregants we will triumph,” said Muturi.
The vicar general reverend Kenneth Munanga said that there were five candidates in the race and through the search process two candidates were dropped and three remained and went through the main elections with voters conducting themselves decorum.
“the exercise was fair and everybody knew the process and also knew what they were doing from the start and even announcing the winner and everybody was happy to hear Bishop Muturi has won,” said Munanga
He said that he would want that the strategic plan that has been set out that is fulfilled within the new bishop’s term and unite the church.
“We do not need to spend so much time fighting calling names due to leadership and it is God who appoints and other churches should emulate what we have done here since there was no wrangles ,” said Munanga.
Reverend Cecilia Kariuki said that the church is happy for the process of election was free and fair and there was no infighting or bad blood of even those who were not elected.
Reverend Kiarie Ndambo said that Bishop Muturi has shown leadership earlier and the church is happy to have him as the leader of diocese.
Faithfull’s praised Muturi as being man of the people and someone who is caring for the less fortunate and has a vision of seeing people grow.
“Our new Bishop visits our home and prays with us and he listens and is people oriented and we pray that God give him strength to take the church to a level of prosperity,” said Susan Wangechi a faithful.