Three people died on the spot and 11 others got various injuries as two rival groups clashed over the leadership of the Africa Israel Nineveh Church in Hamisi Constituency, Vihiga County.
The day was Sunday, August 09, 2015. A house and a car belonging to the Church’s Bishop John Kivuli Mweresa were burnt to ashes. Mweresa escaped unhurt.
The Nation reported that the Church run by a family, had been embroiled in leadership wrangles for long after the death of its founder Mr. Daudi Kivuli in the 1950s.
Before his death, Kivuli is said to have handed leadership roles to his son John Mweresa.However, Mr. Kivuli’s Widow Mrs. Rebecca Kivuli, one Chadiva Amugune and a section of church members, are claimed to have fallen out with Mr. Mweresa’s leadership, resulting in a long battle over control of the church.
Before chaos broke out on Sunday August 09, 2015, it is alleged that Bishop Mweresa had hired goons to attack members of the rival group.A group of the goons are said to have been hiding in his house, which was set on fire, while others were at the church ready for their ‘mission’.
However, their plans were allegedly thwarted as they were overpowered by the church members who allegedly killed three of the alleged goons while many others were injured.
One person died later on to make the death to hit four. Mr. Mweresa remains the Church’s Bishop to date.
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