By Gerald Mukembu
Y
Members of the Methodist Church of Kenya (MCK) from seven synods in Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties have issued a stern warning of boycotting church contributions if Presiding Bishop Isaiah Deye is disrespected or unlawfully removed from office.
Members insist Bishop Deye was duly elected in July 2023 for a five year term ending in 2028, and efforts to oust him are illegitimate and disruptive.
The members drawn from seven Meru and Tharaka Nithi synods including Igembe, Nyambene, Miathene, Kaaga, Mt Kenya, Nkubu and Tharaka have demanded for the respect of the remaining term limit of Bishop Deye.
Led by Moses Marete, the Mwanika church chairperson, the members said trying to remove Deye is putting the church in legal litigation and making sure the church is never peaceful.
“All institutions must be taken care of. It is a shame for Maua Methodist hospital that has existed for 98, has never grown to open a single branch similar to Meru Methodist bookshop that has never expanded. We are not fighting anyone. We demand checks and balances against misuse of power by clergy. If all this does not happen bearing in mind MCK members contribute their money to the maintenance and running of circuits, Synods and connection, we will cut off any church contributions,” Marete said.
He added that they won’t keep quite and wait when the church falls over personal interests.
“Most cases ongoing in court , the 16 in number have been petitioned by the MCK clergy. We demand immediate restoration of orderly governance and publication of key reform reports already commissioned. We also want thorough investigations of historical land losses and financial impropriety, a greater transparency and accountability in the use of church resources,” Marete said.
Daniel Kirera and Eric Kiambi echoed his sentiments saying they were saddened by the crisis witnessed in the recent past and called for calm among MCK church members wherever they are.
“We are firm that the legitimate leadership in the church can only be constituted through due process as outlined in the standing orders. Any other path is illegitimate, chaotic and unacceptable. We are aware of people who have raised issue of age of our Presiding Bishop. He was elected on July 2023 and given a contract of five years which is supposed to end in 2028,” Kirera said.
Kiambi emphasized on three crucial institutional reforms that must be implemented to the letter including establishment of stronger governance structure, deed of church order (constitution) and financial and other church resources audit brought to the public know.
Two weeks ago, a crisis in the church arose again after 12 synod bishops accused Deye of poor leadership and financial mismanagement.
Deye took office in 2023 to restore order after a decade of infighting and insisted the allegations are politically motivated.
He claimed that those pushing for his ouster are named in the audit and seek to derail accountability measures after successful ouster of Presiding Bishop Joseph Ntombura.
Deye has vowed to stay in office, defend his mandate at the upcoming August conference, and table forensic audit findings despite mounting pressure from the dissenting bishops.
