This archive report was first published on 6 July 2021.
On July 6, 2021, the burial of Bishop Eliud Nyongesa, founder of Christ of All People Church, took a dramatic turn at the church's headquarters in Kiminini Trans-Nzoia. His wife, Rosebella Wafula, and their children arrived to claim the body but were met with resistance from church members and police.
According to eyewitnesses, Rosebella and her kin were blocked by police led by Kiminini OCS Suleiman Abdullah and assistant Chief Sam Khaemba, who advised them to seek legal intervention if they wanted the body exhumed. "For now, allow the burial to go on as planned because there are relevant documents sanctioning the burial in the church premise and if you have issues seek legal redress if you want the body exhumed," Abdullah told Rosebella.
Church members produced a written will by the deceased, which sanctioned his burial in the church compound. The will, according to a church member, Justus Wekesa, was in line with the bishop's wishes to be buried in the compound as a symbol of the church. Wekesa revealed that Bishop Nyongesa had founded the church 15 years ago and had 33 branches in Kenya and Uganda.
Some followers described Bishop Nyongesa as a prophet and spiritual healer, who had helped many childless couples conceive through his prayers. "We referred to him as baba. He was a prophet and had healed many people through prayers," said Derrick Wafula.
