Church service grounded over gay priest row
A worship service at a church whose priest was suspended over homosexual claims was interrupted for the second time on Sunday.
Faithful at the Kagongo Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) held two parallel services, with the larger group having theirs under a tree and presided over by a self-appointed priest.
The other group had its service inside the church, which was half-empty.
The worshippers accused the newly-posted leader of importing worshippers from the neighbouring Kiamuyu and Othaya churches to mask the ongoing wrangles.
“If Rev Samuel Maina is retained as the leader, this church must be split into two. We don’t want him. I would rather move to a different church,” said Ms Grace Njoki, a worshipper.
And for the second Sunday, police were called in due to the heightened tension between the two groups.
The bishop of ACK Mt Kenya West branch has distanced himself from the wrangles, maintaining that the church was calm.
Bishop Joseph Kagunda said the church in Kagongo was the only one that was experiencing wrangles in the region.
He said the church had been split into two with one of the splinter groups opposing the newly-posted leader.
A section of the worshippers accused the church leadership of foul play, saying the elders were not consulted.
They said Mr John Gachau — who was accused of being a homosexual — is being ‘finished’ due to his remarkable development record.