More than 10 hospitalised after rival groups fight in Kisii Church

At least 10 people are recuperating in hospital after sustaining various injuries in a brawl that broke out at Nyabigena Adventist Church in South Mugirango, Kisii County, between two opposing factions in a dispute over the church's leadership.

Citizen Digital has obtained footage of the July 20th altercation which went viral on social media.

The video begins with two turban-donning women, seemingly from opposing factions, having a heated verbal exchange inside the church.

Reports indicate that the factions comprise members from the Adventist Church and the Nairobi Cosmopolitan Conference (NCC), which reportedly split from the Adventist house of worship. Despite the separation, both groups continue to hold services at the same grounds on Saturdays.

The women's confrontation attracts the attention of several men who surround one of the ladies in an attempt to forcibly eject her from the church. The woman resists but is met by blows from the other lady. 

The situation quickly escalates with members of the two factions physically fighting each other using plastic chairs as weapons. The altercation continues for a few minutes before spilling out into the church’s compound.

"This plot begins to my father. The other group was not supposed to come here. Goons were sent here to chase us away and they attacked us in the process," Penwel Nyambane, an NCC member involved in the commotion, told Citizen Digital.

"NCC is not part of the Adventist Church but they have been using our grounds for years," Martha Bosibori, another participant, said.

The two groups have vowed to revisit the issue this Saturday, even though their leaders have been ordered to avail themselves before the area's Deputy County Commissioner to resolve the conflict.

Residents have since urged the government to step in and address the situation.