The Gospel of Redemption Church in Chepareria, West Pokot District has been embroiled in an internal dispute that has led to physical and verbal clashes between two factions.
On Sunday, a disturbance broke out inside the sanctuary, which quickly escalated into a physical fight that brought the service to an abrupt end. Police were dispatched to secure the premises and asked all worshipers to leave.
This infighting threatens the church's long-standing reputation as a symbol of spiritual harmony.
The controversy dates back to 2017, when the church's founder, Dr. Charles Otipo, immigrated to the United States and Pastor Timothy Siamoyi was appointed as senior pastor.
Pastor Siamoi is currently facing strong opposition from some members of his congregation for acting unexpectedly and deviating from the church's traditional teachings.
Longtime members cite recent changes in preaching and teaching as a departure from the traditional values that have defined the congregation.
Member Elizabeth Kagia accused Pastor Siamoi of interfering in people's family matters, citing uncooperative and biased treatment of issues.
“We don't want him. Let him pack up and leave. We made sacrifices to build this church and he makes us follow the founders of the American church.” “I am asking you to do so,” she declared, expressing her desire for the pastor to step down. The church was later renamed.
church membership
Kagia said the church's membership has plummeted by a quarter.
“Will there be a pastor who will take what you say and put it into the market? When you tell him about your marital problems, he will talk about you behind your back. Because of the donations, our children were not able to go to school. We need another pastor,” she said.
Amid this clash of ideologies, financial issues have also become a major point of contention, with accusations of mismanagement and lack of transparency in the handling of church funds.
Some members claim that funds intended for community outreach and church development projects have been diverted.
This unexpected turn of events threw the church into a struggle for unity.
Elder David Leleiwa, a respected member of the Church for more than 30 years, said local church leaders and elders are increasingly concerned about the impact of these internal conflicts on the broader community. expressed.
“We have always embraced a conservative approach to teaching, rooted in the principles that have guided us for generations. Recent changes in pulpit messages and worship styles “This is causing a rift among members,” he said.
locked the church
Josephat Mwaka, a church member, said Pastor Siamoi locked the church early last week to prevent some members from attending Sunday services.
“He should move elsewhere. How can church leaders get into a physical fight? We're not going anywhere,” he said.
Another worshiper, Rotich Ketare, said the Evangelical Church of the Redeemer, once a pillar of support and guidance, is now facing a crisis that threatens its positive influence.
“We donate our hard-earned money in the hopes that it will be used for the betterment of the community and the church. However, there seems to be a lack of accountability regarding the financial affairs of the church. “It's creating mistrust among believers,” he said.
Asked for comment, Pastor Siamoi said that following Sunday's events, he took refuge at Chepareria Police Station and decided to record a statement.
In an interview with Nation.Africa on Monday, he said the dispute was about competition for church leadership.
“I was selected by the senior pastor, Dr. Charles Otipo. Due process was followed and I have been working successfully for five years,” he said.
denied the charges
Chamoy denied the charges against him, saying some church members did not support his appointment and were trying to sabotage him from taking office.
“There are people who are trying to bring me down. They shut down the church,” he claimed.
Siamoi said he had all of the church's financial records available for review and that not a penny had been embezzled as alleged.
He also defended his teachings by saying they were based on God's Word.
“I don't understand what they are saying about my teachings,” the pastor said.
Nation.Africa understands that efforts to mediate and reconcile warring factions have proven difficult.
However, although deep-rooted differences remain, a committee of representatives from both sides has been established to foster dialogue.
