A dramatic spiritual standoff is unfolding in Nyamira County, where the Evangelical Lutheran Church now finds itself with two bishops, two consecration ceremonies, and a deeply divided diocese.
At Nyamira Boys High School, Bernard Nyanyuki Nyakundi was consecrated in a ceremony led by Archbishop Dr. Joseph Ochola. But just a few kilometers away, at the Lutheran Church in Ogango, another consecration was happening—this time for Andrew Atunga Ong’ondo, backed by a rival faction of the church.
The parallel events have thrown the faithful into confusion, as both camps claim legitimacy and accuse each other of manipulation and procedural irregularities.
Ong’ondo’s supporters allege that the archbishop was influenced by a small group with vested interests. “The Archbishop called us again, probably after being swayed by those close to him… He is now a captive of certain individuals claiming to represent the will of the people,” Ong’ondo said. “Former bishops advised him to let the people of Nyamira choose their own leader, but he refused.”
On the other hand, church official Mochiemo stood firm, telling congregants: “In our Nyamira Diocese, leadership elections take place at our headquarters—right here where we are now. Any leadership chosen outside this diocese, outside this office, is not legitimate.”
The controversy has stirred accusations of vote-rigging, with Ong’ondo’s camp alleging that outsiders—including relatives from denominations like the Seventh Day Adventist and Roman Catholic churches—were brought in as voters to influence the outcome.
Despite the uproar, Archbishop Ochola maintains that only one consecration is valid.
“This is the bishop we will recognize in our church council, in all bodies and functions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church,” Ochola declared. “Anyone else claiming to be the bishop of Nyamira is outside the church’s official structure.”
With two competing bishops and rising tensions among the faithful, the Nyamira diocese now faces a critical test of unity—and the need for spiritual and administrative healing.
