Court grants bishop reprieve in leadership onslaught

Embattled Methodist Church of Kenya presiding Bishop Joseph Ntombura on Friday obtained temporary reprieve after the High Court halted an order issued stopping him from holding office.

Justice Joseph Sergon had just issued an order minutes earlier barring him from serving in his position, however, the judge agreed to suspend the directive following a request from his lawyer to do so in order to allow him move to the Court of Appeal to challenge that decision.

“Your request to allow time to appeal is hereby allowed, you are allowed to do so in 30 days,” the judge said.

Bishop Ntombura was elected into office in 2013 but four members of the said church moved to court claiming that they represented the rest of his flock, hence sought an order to have him removed from office on grounds that he had failed to disclose his academic qualifications.

Mr Godfrey Simiyu, Mr Mathew Kaburu, Mr Kobia Michubu and Mr Charles Kinoti also accused him of misappropriating the funds belonging to their church.

The four - who worship at the church’s Kawangware branch - alleged he does not have the academic qualifications, which is a post graduate degree so as to be elected as the presiding bishop.

They had accused him of being involved in personal businesses which are in conflict with the religious institute, and that he had been struck off from the church's register.

They further claims that there are reports of the Bishop harassing some of the church’s employees and that his election was uncertain.

They also accused him of leasing a house outside the official presiding Bishop’s residence, which has subjected the church to unnecessary expenses.

They further accuse him of importing a second hand Land Cruiser car at an exaggerated price without any consultation.

They insist that attempts to make him provide documents of the transaction have not borne fruit, and now they fear that he may be misappropriating their church funds, an issue that would make their house of worship to face ridicule.

“The members feel that they are seriously aggrieved by the said acts and request for an urgent redress,” their lawyer told the judge.

I AM INNOCENT
They, therefore, want the bishop ordered to vacate office so that the church may be at liberty to elect a new presiding leader.

They also want him compelled to provide audited financial reports for year 2013 and 2014, besides disclosing his academic credentials.

But according to the Bishop, he has the requisite qualifications and that he does not control finances of the said church.

He also claims that he does not have a say on how Methodist Church of Kenya properties are acquired, managed or disposed off.

He has also refuted any allegations raised against him.

“It is plain that the honorary treasurer is the one in charge of all finances therefore the plaintiffs' assertions, especially on church finances, are unfounded,” he said in court documents.

The suit comes only a day before a graduation event at the Kenya Methodist University, an institution led by Bishop Ntombura.

Former Presiding Bishop Stephen Kanyaru has recorded a statement with police in Meru over allegations of disrupting the 16th graduation ceremony.

Bishop Kanyaru, who was accompanied by his lawyer Caroline Rimita, was questioned for one hour by officers from the North Imenti Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI).

He, however, refused to talk about the matter when interviewed by the press outside the station.

Imenti North OCPD Sammy Kosgey told Nation on phone there were hearsays that the graduation would not go on as planned.

“There were claims that since there is a case in court questioning the legitimacy of the current Presiding Bishop, the predecessor should act as the Chancellor during the graduation,” Mr Kosgey said.

The police boss said the graduation would continue as planned. “All is well and the graduands are going on with their rehearsals,” he said.

Additional reporting by Darlington Manyara; editing by Philip Momanyi