Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Vihiga and Kakamega counties have launched an investigation into the alleged abduction of the PAG General Presiding Superintendent, Bishop Patrick Lihanda, who went missing under mysterious circumstances on Saturday evening.
Bishop Lihanda had left the Nyang’ori PAG headquarters around 4 p.m. en route to a meeting in Mbale town, Vihiga County, but shortly afterward, he sent a distressing message to his driver, claiming his life was in danger. Efforts to reach him were unsuccessful, as his phone was switched off moments later.
The alarmed driver reported the matter to Mbale Police Station, leading DCI officers to track the bishop’s phone to Mayoni. Mumias Sub-county police commander Stephen Muoni confirmed on Sunday morning that the bishop’s white Mercedes Benz was found abandoned at Shibale Trading Centre in Mumias, Kakamega County. The car’s headlights were still on, but the vehicle was empty, with only the bishop’s Bible, spectacles, and diary found inside.
The suspected abduction has raised concerns, especially with highly anticipated and contested PAG church elections scheduled for October 1, 2024, at the Nyang’ori headquarters.
The church has been embroiled in a five-year leadership dispute between two rival factions, resulting in several court cases. The ongoing leadership struggle has cast doubt on whether the upcoming elections will proceed as planned. Investigations into Bishop Lihanda’s disappearance are ongoing as authorities work to uncover the circumstances surrounding the case.
