Netizens witnessed a dramatic social media exchange between Gatundu North MP Njoroge Kururia and JCM Church Bishop Muthee Kiengei, which unfolded over the course of a night and the following morning. What began as a seemingly innocuous comment by Bishop Kiengei on Facebook quickly escalated into a full-blown public feud, with Kururia taking to social media to defend his family and address broader grievances with the church leader.
The Origin of the Dispute
The online confrontation began when Bishop Kiengei posted a statement implying that he had been providing flour to Kururia’s mother through the JCM Church. This comment, which might have been intended as a reflection of the church’s charitable activities, was interpreted by the MP as a personal attack on his family, sparking a wave of responses that surprised many online followers.
Kururia, clearly upset by the insinuation, posted a series of messages rebutting Kiengei’s claims. He not only denied the allegations but also highlighted his own capacity to care for his mother, emphasising that he had built her a palatial home and purchased a car for her. The MP’s posts were both detailed and emotionally charged, with each new message reinforcing his anger and disappointment over Kiengei’s remarks.
A Personal Defence
Kururia’s defence of his mother became the focal point of the feud. In his posts, he detailed his deep bond with his mother and his role as her primary supporter, positioning himself as the protector of her dignity. The MP’s responses reflected both his pride in what he had achieved for his family and his frustration with what he saw as an unjustified and personal attack from the bishop. At one point, Kururia addressed Kiengei directly, stating: “My mother cannot rely on flour handouts; I have ensured she has everything she needs, including a car and a home. Any suggestion otherwise is false and damaging.”
Kururia’s words resonated with his followers, many of whom expressed support for his stance, while others encouraged him to tone down his approach.
Past Interactions with Bishop Kiengei
As the dispute evolved, Kururia began to recount his past interactions with Bishop Kiengei, revealing details about their personal and professional relationship. He shared that, in the past, he had hired Kiengei to officiate at family events, including as a master of ceremonies for his dowry presentation in 2018. These previous engagements, Kururia noted, were cordial, and he had even made financial contributions to Kiengei’s church during that time.
Kururia further claimed that, despite his support for Kiengei’s ministry, he had felt disrespected by the bishop on multiple occasions. He recounted how Kiengei had refused to preach in his presence, allegedly because the MP was not a follower of the JCM Church. This perceived slight added another layer of complexity to the feud, with Kururia suggesting that the current spat was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of tension between them.
A Broader Critique of the Church
In addition to addressing the specific comments about his mother, Kururia used the opportunity to voice concerns about the conduct of church leaders more generally. He questioned the leadership of the JCM Church and raised doubts about the qualifications and behaviour of certain individuals within the church hierarchy.
In one post, Kururia made pointed references to the ordination of church leaders, suggesting that some may not be living up to the standards expected of them. These comments hinted at deeper frustrations Kururia may have with religious institutions and their leadership, broadening the scope of the feud beyond the personal and into the public arena.
The Public Response
Throughout the exchange, the public watched with a mixture of fascination and shock. Netizens flooded both Kururia’s and Kiengei’s pages with comments, offering opinions, advice, and even criticism of the ongoing drama. Some expressed support for Kururia’s defence of his family, while others urged both parties to resolve the issue privately rather than airing their grievances in a public forum.
Despite this, Kururia remained firm in his stance, continuing to post for several hours as the tension escalated. His refusal to back down, coupled with the personal nature of the insults and allegations, kept netizens glued to their screens as the situation unfolded.
The Call for Peace
After a night of intense back-and-forth, the online feud appeared to reach its peak when a mutual friend or intermediary reportedly intervened. Shortly after, Kururia returned to Facebook to announce that he had forgiven Kiengei, effectively ending the dispute.
In his final post on the matter, Kururia wrote: “I have forgiven him. Bro, go and preach Jesus now.” This conciliatory tone marked a dramatic shift from the earlier combative messages, signalling a desire to move past the conflict.
Kiengei’s Silence
Throughout the entire ordeal, Bishop Kiengei remained notably silent. He did not publicly respond to any of Kururia’s allegations or engage in the online back-and-forth. At one point, Kiengei even restricted access to his social media profiles, presumably to prevent further escalation or to avoid becoming the centre of attention in the heated exchange.
This silence only added to the intrigue surrounding the situation, with many speculating about Kiengei’s decision to stay quiet. Some netizens commended him for taking the high road, while others questioned whether he might eventually offer a response.
Reflections from Netizens
As the dust began to settle, various netizens offered their reflections on the unusual social media drama. One user, Wanyeki Kago, shared his thoughts on the exchange, noting: “It seems like the trending Gatundu MP, whom you’re tagging all over, is a PhD holder in expletives and language use. On the other hand, the self-ordained bishop is being portrayed as a village bully and city-based charlatan. Who are we to take sides or second guess former friends?”
Kago’s words summed up the general sentiment among many observers—while the feud was public and explosive, it also highlighted the complexities of personal relationships and the challenges of managing conflicts in the public eye.
A Lesson in Social Media Conflicts
The public feud between MP Njoroge Kururia and Bishop Muthee Kiengei offers a stark reminder of the power and pitfalls of social media. What might have been a private disagreement between two individuals quickly became a public spectacle, drawing in countless onlookers and sparking widespread discussion. As the two men move forward, their social media exchange serves as a lesson in the need for caution when airing grievances in the public domain.
Despite the harsh words exchanged, the eventual resolution of the conflict—however temporary—demonstrates that even the most heated disputes can find a peaceful conclusion. Whether the relationship between Kururia and Kiengei will ever return to what it once was remains to be seen, but for now, netizens have shifted their attention to the next unfolding drama in Kenya’s vibrant online space.
