There was chaos at Kiamwathi PCEA church in Nyeri county after youths stormed its precincts over leadership squabbles.
The youths drawn from seven churches stormed PCEA Nyeri Joy parish headquarters to protest a decision by church elders to kick out the parish reverend.
They claimed some of the accusations levelled against the reverend were baseless and accused the elders of failing to raise the issues before church members for amicable resolution.
The chaos brought the normal service in the church to a halt as the youths took control and locked congregants out.
For about six hours, the youths who arrived at the church early in the morning, held a meeting inside the church precincts with the presbytery’s moderator Patrick Kimathi while confused church members waited outside the gate.
Police officers rushed to the church and kept guard as the youths engaged the leadership of the church.
John Kimani, one of the youths, said the elders should have involved church members before making the drastic decision.
“They are accusing him of not administering Holy Communion among other things but that is untrue because we have been receiving it as we should,” he said.
“This church belongs to all of us and if any issue need to be resolved, it should be brought to all members for resolution. Why are the elders making decisions in secret?” he asked.
Mary Nyakio, another youth, said they were happy that the church’s leadership gave them a platform to air their discontentment.
“We are happy that as youths, we have been able to express our views. We have to admit that some of the accusations levelled against the reverend have been confirmed to be true,” she said.
But the moderator who addressed the congregants after concluding his meeting with the youths assured them that the reverend would stay and that the issues would be resolved.
“The reverend is here and we will work with him. Nobody is going anywhere. Everything is fine so my appeal is that you maintain peace as members,” Kimathi said.
The commotion saw the church start its Sunday service at noon with the youthful members promising to storm the parish headquarters again if the elders behind the reverend’s woes are not kicked out.
