Chaos at Kitengela church as worshippers demand vicar's exit

A tug-of-war between congregants of ACK’s Holy Trinity Church in Kitengela the vicar forced the closure of the church on Sunday.

Vicar Reverend Canon David Lawi was forced to call the police after elders of the church stood their ground demanding his exit.

A section of the congregation had their service in the church while others supporting the vicar held prayers outside.

The church elders claimed their vicar called an election recently without following the church’s regulations and laws.

“He called an election and forced on us strangers to take up senior positions such as that of the treasurer to manage our resources,” elder Benson Ndutha said.

Ndutha said the church was started in 2004 and has been doing well financially.

He said they started a school which is bringing in Sh6 million per term.

“We have even written to our Bishop Gadiel Lenini explaining why he should take the pastor away. He appointed a probe committee to investigate the vicar but nothing has taken place to date,” Ndutha said.

The elder said the Holy Trinity Church recently purchased a Sh80 million land in Kitengela and they are not comfortable with their vicar managing the resources of the church with strangers.

When contacted for comment on the claims, Lawi said the matter at the church is beyond him and that the Bishop is the only person who can comment.

When reached for comment, Bishop Lenini said on the phone that he was in a church service elsewhere in town and would call back later.

“I will call you as soon as I'm done,” Bishop Lenini said.

The Bishop, however, had not called back to comment on what was happening in his church by press time.

The congregation opposed to Lawi’s leadership said they would stage another protest next Sunday to force the bishop to take action.

“We built this church and the school and this vicar is bringing in strangers to manage our resources. We will not accept this at all,” a congregant said.

A section of the 'Mothers Union' on Sunday carried placards in the church demanding the removal of the vicar.

Some of the officials who were elected in the alleged flawed election have since resigned after the church called for another election.