Dens of thieves: How money, wars mess up churches in western

William Ruto donates a car to the African Church of the Holy Spirit high priest Shem Shamalla at Malava in Kakamega county on September 18, 2021. {Benjamin Sakwa/ Standard}

For many years, Kakamega and Vihiga counties have been known to be the home and headquarters of many churches such as Friends Church and Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG).

However, churches in the two devolved units are witnessing serious leadership wrangles threatening to split the houses of God that have stood for centuries. The wrangles have been attributed to indiscipline, arrogance, jealousy, gender and politics.

It is emerging that most of the disagreements are caused by how and church funds are managed. Some leaders are even being accused of using money meant for community aid for their personal use.

Recently, the wrangles threatened to bring down the African Church of the Holy Spirit in Malava constituency, Kakamega County after some congregants protested and filed a complaint at it’s Lugala headquarters. They wanted Senior Bishop Bathlomayo Lunani of Dumbeni branch removed.

The bishop’s church once hosted President William Ruto when he was the deputy president. He had come to present a vehicle to one of the priests.

However, Bishop Lunani rubbished the claims and urged the congregants to ignore the accusations. Amos Molenje has since been named as the acting bishop.

Services that used to inspire the faithful are now subdued by the disputes, leaving many members confused.

In Vihiga County, churches have also been hit by leadership wrangles pitting members against each other.

Two weeks ago, the High Court resolved a long-standing wrangle pitting women congregants at Pentecostal Assemblies of God with the church constitution which barred women from vying for certain posts.

Women had been banned from vying for the lucrative posts of General Superintendent, General Secretary, and General Treasurer, a decision the court overturned.

Ruth Ameyo, a member in one of the PAG churches in Vihiga welcomed the ruling stating that women have been sidelined in church leadership for long.

“The issues we are facing in our churches boil down to love for money and power. Many church leaders are enriching themselves through resources contributed by members. It is a lucrative business and wrangles will continue,” she said.

However, some church leaders opine that the major contributor to the current wrangles is that men of the cloth have prioritised power and money at the expense of spiritual nourishment.

“We have seen church leaders allowing politicians to use pulpits to advance their agenda in return for donations and this has caused murmurs because some faithful feel leaders are taking advantage of them,” said John Agesa, a leader in Kakamega.

Kakamega County Interfaith chair Bishop Nicholas Olumasai acknowledges church leadership wrangles and urges clerics to serve God’s people.