Court orders the arrest of an Anglican bishop

The Labor Court issued an arrest warrant against the bishop of the Mount Kenya Anglican Church, Joseph Kagunda.

Judge Nzioki wa Makau ordered the court to apprehend the bishop and present him to the court for contempt.

"You are hereby ordered to apprehend Bishop Joseph Kagunda and bring him to this court to answer the said charge and to be dealt with according to the law on July 12, 2018 to 9 hours, "ordered the judge at the bailiff.

In the order signed by the Deputy Registrar of the Employment and Labor Relations Tribunal, the judge also ordered the bailiffs to apprehend the director general of the trustees of the court. Anglican Church of Kenya for failing to appear in court on June 25. 2018

Judge Makau made the order following a petition from three priests who were reinstated in their ministerial duties after being suspended for their alleged involvement in homobaduality.

Reverend Paul Warui, Archdeacon John Gachau and Reverend James Maigua, through the intermediary of Attorney David Onsare, said the Church had ignored the court's orders .

The lawyer told the court that on May 15, 2018, the church had been fined. 00 for disobeying a court order to reinstate and compensate priests.

Judge Makau stated that he did not compensate the Sh.6.8 million priests in accordance with the earlier directive issued by Judge Byram Ongaya on September 30, 2016.

Ongaya made the orders after establishing that the allegations of homobaduality against the three priests were false and that they suffered from "profound defamation in the eyes of the faithful and the public".

"The respondents expressed their resolve to frustrate and take advantage of clients who had no other recourse than the court. They refused to obey numerous court orders, thus prolonging the psychological trauma suffered by the plaintiffs, "said Mr. Onsare

adding that the church has retained the fruits of the judgment to the detriment of plaintiffs. 19659008] The lawyer stated that the knowledge of court orders can not be disputed.

"The behavior of the respondents and of its senior leaders is evidence of a systematic contemptuous attitude towards the courts." With respect to the procedures and orders of this court, the culture of disobeying the orders of the courts has reached very high levels in Kenya and the courts must now exercise their constitutional power to punish people for contempt of court, "said M Onsare.

The three priests say they suffer, considering that employment by the church is their main source of sustenance.