Kenya's President William Ruto and Uganda's Vice President Jessica Alupo on Sunday attended the consecration and enthronement of Rt Rev Vitalis Job Ekuru as the fourth Anglican Bishop of Katakwa Diocese in Busia County, Kenya.
The ceremony, presided over by Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit of the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), drew senior church leaders, government officials and cultural leaders from Kenya and Uganda.
Bishop Ekuru succeeds Rt. Rev. John Ekude, who retired after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 65.
The consecration marked the formal transfer of spiritual authority through an elaborate Anglican service that included prayers, examination of faith, the laying on of hands, anointing with holy oil and the presentation of the symbols of episcopal office.
In his charge to the new bishop, Archbishop Ole Sapit urged Bishop Ekuru to embrace servant leadership by safeguarding the church's doctrine, promoting unity and caring for the faithful.
"As a bishop you are called to lead in serving and caring for the people of God. You are to maintain the church's discipline, guard her faith and promote her mission in the world," Sapit said.
The Archbishop reminded Bishop Ekuru of his pastoral responsibilities, urging him to remain close to the people entrusted to his care.
"You are to know your people and be known by them. You are to ordain and commission new ministers, guiding those who serve with you and enabling them to fulfil their ministry," he said.
Archbishop Ole Sapit presented the new bishop with a Bible, an episcopal ring and a pastoral staff handed over by the retiring Bishop Ekude as symbols of his spiritual office and responsibility to shepherd the flock of Christ.
President Ruto congratulated Bishop Ekuru and pledged his government's continued partnership with the church in delivering services to Kenyans.
Vice President Alupo conveyed President Yoweri Museveni's message to President Ruto and commended faith-based institutions for their contribution to health, education, wealth creation and the promotion of moral values and discipline among citizens.
Alupo was accompanied by the Minister of Ethics and Integrity, Rose Lilly Akello; the Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President, Diana Mutasingwa; the Iteso Cultural Leader, Emorimor Paul Sande Emolot; and Her Majesty Juliet Among Emolot, among other dignitaries.
In his acceptance remarks, Bishop Ekuru pledged to uphold the Constitution of the Anglican Church of Kenya and lead the diocese with "truth, justice and love."
A highly experienced cleric and academic, Bishop Ekuru holds a PhD and has more than 20 years of experience in ministry, education and administration.
He currently serves as Chairperson of the Diocesan House of Clergy, Archdeacon of Chamasiri Archdeaconry, and an adjunct lecturer at St. Paul's University and the Katakwa satellite campus of Carlile College.
Born on August 5, 1972, in Aburi Village, Kaborom Location, Bungoma County, Bishop Ekuru is the third of eight children born to Peter Joshua Omai and Mary Auchokoit.
