A tug-of-war between the congregations of Kitengela ACK’s Holy Trinity Church and the vicar forced the closure of the church on Sunday.
Reverend Canon David Lawi, who is the church Vicar, was forced to call the police after elders of the church stood their ground forcing his exit.
A section of the congregation had their service in the church while others supporting the Vicar had 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, the strangers to take up senior positions such as that of the treasurer to manage our resources,” said elder Benson Ndutha.
Members of the Mother Union protest against their Vicar in Kitengela on May 5, 2024.
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,” said Ndutha.
Elder Ndutha 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 we contacted Lawi, he said the matter at the church is beyond him and that the Bishop is the only person who can comment.
When we called Lenini on the phone to comment on the matter at the Kitengela church he said he was in a church service elsewhere in the town and would call back later.
“I will call you as soon as I am done,” Bishop Lenini said on the phone.
The Bishop never called to explain what was happening in his church.
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 through illegal election to manage our resources. We will not accept this at all,” said another member.
Canon David Lawi said he cannot comment on the matter.
Some of the members who were elected in the said flowed election have since resigned after the church called for another election.
A section of the Mothers Union on Sunday carried placards in the church that demanded the removal of the Vicar.
The treasurer, members of the Mothers Union, and other members elected in the alleged fraudulent elections managed by the vicar in the church have since resigned and are demanding fresh elections.