Author: Boniface Ongeri
Publication: The Standard
Date: April 7, 2006
URL: http://eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143950617
The Government has expelled three African
Inland Church missionaries from Wajir District citing security reasons.
The Wajir District Security Committee reached
the decision to sent the trio, Thomas Reiner, a German, pastor Getachu of
Ethiopia and Martin Tumusiime of Uganda, packing following protests from local
imams, District Commissioner Samuel Otieno said.
He downplayed the expulsion, saying the move
was meant to protect the missionaries.
"Let it be clear that we have not expelled the three missionaries. We
requested them to leave because we could not guarantee them security after
local leaders issued a 10 day ultimatum for them to leave the district,"
Otieno said.
However, the preachers insisted they were expelled without being heard.
"The Government did not give us a chance
to defend ourselves. It reached a decision by listening to the other group
only," said Reiner on telephone.
Otieno said local religious leaders had declared them unwanted for converting
at least 30 people to Christianity.
"Their activities, conduct and character
have put them at crossroads with the predominantly Muslim community,"
he said.
He said the religious leaders were yet to table names of the converted people.
"They are yet to record a statement with
the police to enable speedy investigations into the claims," he added.
But Reiner said the missionaries were shocked
by the expulsion yet their work was to reach Christians working and living
in the arid district.
"We have not converted anyone,"
he said.
