Three priests have obtained an injunction challenging the enthronement of Venerable Charles Mwendwa Ndiga as the second Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) bishop of Meru.
The three filed an injunction seeking to nullify Ndiga’s election as bishop, arguing he is not qualified for the job.
The ruling by a Meru court will be issued next Friday two days before the consecration.
Nkubu Senior Resident Magistrate, Nduku Nzuki, has issued an injunction pending the determination as to whether the new bishop will be enthroned on Friday.
The church head, the Most Rev Benjamin Nzimbi, is expected to preside over the consecration and enthronement ceremony at Kinoru Stadium, in Meru town.
Nzimbi and a church committee headed by outgoing Meru bishop Henry Patradge, have been named as first and second defendants in the suit.
The three complainants have sued on behalf of 32 other priests in the Meru region.
They allege that Venerable Japheth Gathaka is more qualified to be bishop but was rigged out by the church committee chaired by Bishop of Mt Kenya South ACK, the Rev Peter Njenga.
Ndiga was controversially elected Meru bishop on November 30 despite a court injunction which was disregarded by the committee.
This prompted the three priests to seek contempt of court proceedings against the church.
Reliable sources said the three priests who have sued the church have been demoted for allegedly disregarding the church constitution.
Patradge, a missionary from New Zealand, has served in the Meru ACK diocese for more than ten years and is set to return home.