The young congregants, drawn from seven different churches within the Nyeri Joy Parish, stormed the church precincts on August 18, 2024, to express their dissatisfaction with the church elders' decision to remove their beloved reverend.
The commotion started early in the morning when the youths arrived at the church premises. Their primary grievance was the recent decision by the church elders to dismiss the resident reverend from his duties.
The youths claimed that the reasons given for the reverend’s dismissal were unfounded and lacked transparency. Among the accusations leveled against the reverend were allegations of failing to administer Holy Communion regularly, a claim the youths strongly refuted.
John Kimani, one of the vocal leaders among the protesting youths, voiced their frustrations. He argued that the elders had acted unilaterally without consulting the broader church membership.
“They are accusing him of not administering Holy Communion, but that is not true. We have been receiving it as we should,” Kimani said, emphasizing that the elders should have involved the congregation in such a significant decision.
The protest brought the usual Sunday service to a halt as the youths took control of the church compound, effectively locking out the other congregants.
For several hours, the church grounds became a scene of tension, with confused church members waiting outside the gates while the youths held a private meeting inside the church precincts with the presbytery’s moderator, Patrick Kimathi.
The youths’ actions were not just about the dismissal of the reverend but also a call for more transparency and inclusiveness in church leadership.
Mary Nyakio, another youth involved in the protest, expressed her satisfaction that the church leadership eventually gave them a platform to air their grievances.
“We are happy that as youths, we have been able to express our views. We have to admit that some of the accusations leveled against the reverend have been confirmed to be true,” Nyakio said.
However, Nyakio and her peers were still concerned about the manner in which the issues were handled. They believed that the elders' decision to remove the reverend was made in secrecy without proper consultation with the church members.
The youths argued that such decisions should involve the entire congregation to avoid misunderstandings and foster unity within the church.
The standoff between the youths and the church elders highlighted a deeper issue of communication and trust within the church leadership.
The youths felt sidelined and believed that their opinions and concerns were not being considered in church matters, particularly in decisions that affect the entire congregation.
This sentiment was echoed by many of the youths present at the protest, who vowed to continue advocating for more transparency and inclusiveness in the church’s decision-making processes.
The situation remained tense for about six hours, with police officers eventually arriving at the scene to maintain order.
The presence of law enforcement underscored the seriousness of the situation, as the officers kept watch over the church compound while the youths and church leaders engaged in discussions.
After hours of deliberation, the presbytery’s moderator, Patrick Kimathi, addressed the congregants who had been waiting outside the church gates.
In his speech, Kimathi sought to calm the tensions and reassure the church members that the situation was under control.
He announced that the reverend would remain in his position and that the issues raised would be addressed appropriately. “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.
Kimathi’s words were meant to reassure the congregants and bring an end to the day’s commotion. However, the youths were not entirely satisfied with the outcome.
They made it clear that they would continue to monitor the situation closely and would not hesitate to take further action if the elders responsible for the reverend’s woes were not held accountable.
The youths promised to storm the parish headquarters again if necessary, signaling that the tensions within the church were far from over.
The events at Kiamwathi PCEA church on that Sunday reflected a growing divide within the church community.
The protest by the youths was a clear indication of the dissatisfaction among the younger members of the church regarding how decisions were being made.
The youths felt that they were being left out of important conversations and decisions, leading to a sense of alienation and frustration.
On the other hand, the elders likely believed they were acting in the best interest of the church by making decisions they thought were necessary for maintaining order and discipline.
However, the lack of communication and involvement of the congregation, particularly the younger members, led to a breakdown in trust and a confrontation that could have been avoided.
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