Tens of elderly women were on Sunday locked up at Sega police station in Siaya following a protest against the leadership of Ligega Catholic church for forcing them into a new parish.
Sunday service at the sub parish in the county was interrupted when the old women, most on walking sticks started chanting against the church leadership, shouting that they could not be forced to join the newly created Mban Catholic parish.
The members of St. Monica, a group whose membership comprises widows was soon joined by a group of Legion of Mary members and other faithful who walked out of the service and took to the streets, carrying placards and twigs.
As the Christians chanted slogans against the church leadership, a contingent of anti riot police drove in and demanded that they disperse.
The elderly women however stood their ground that they were engaging in a peaceful demonstration and were demanding to be heard by the church leadership.
A decision by the police to arrest one of the elderly demonstrators was met by an uproar that saw her colleagues block the vehicle from moving, demanding that they all be arrested.
The police had to stop and watch as the elderly women struggle to board the police Land cruiser in solidarity with their colleague. They were later driven to Sega police station where they were locked in.
Speaking to the press, a faithful, Charles Oduor said the locals were opposed to their inclusion in Mban parish and were demanding a parish of their own or they be allowed to remain under Sega parish.
The faithful lamented that they have raised the matter with the Kisumu Catholic Archdiocese on several occasions but in vain.
They appealed to the new archdiocese head, Archbishop Philip Anyolo to intervene and solve the matter.
By Philip Onyango
