Priests accused of being gay sue bishop, church
Pastors of various churches take part in a demonstration in Kakamega town against an alleged proposal to legalise same-sex relationships. Three priests accused of being homosexuals have sued the Anglican Church of Kenya. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Through their lawyers, the three want the court to find that Bishop Kagunda made false, slanderous and defamatory statements against them.
Three Anglican Church of Kenya priests accused of being homosexuals want the High Court to establish if Mount Kenya West Diocese Bishop Joseph Kagunda caused them to suffer loss of their dignity and integrity.
Through lawyers Wonge, Maina and Onsare Partners Advocates, Archdeacon John Njogu Gachau, the Reverend James Maina Maigua and the Rev Paul Mwangi Warui want the court to find that Bishop Kagunda made false, slanderous and defamatory statements against them.
The three have sued Bishop Kagunda and the registered trustees of the ACK for defamation.
“Whether the quoted statements used are a vehicle for character assassination and destruction without decency, fairness, without any regard to the plaintiff’s rights,” said lawyer Moraa Onsare.
Archdeacon Gachau, who served as the head of the diocese and ministered at St Andrew’s Kangogo Parish, said his dismissal letter, as read to the congregation at a Sunday service, was understood to mean that he was not worthy of the good reputation he possessed.
He said the letter portrayed him as a morally corrupt man who was not fit to hold any office.
