This archive report was first published on 26 July 2021.
On July 26, 2021, a group of Methodist Church leaders in Meru gathered to express their discontent with the church's leadership under Presiding Bishop Joseph Ntombura.
According to the leaders, led by Reverend Meshack Kanake, the church's power should be decentralized, allowing each region to manage its own finances instead of being controlled from Nairobi.
Regional Coordinator Gerishon Mwiti pointed out that the resolution to go regional was made in 1996 but has yet to be implemented, citing bad leadership as the reason.
“Each region should have its own share of the church’s money instead of controlling it from Nairobi,” Mwiti emphasized.
The group also accused Bishop Ntombura of disrespecting leaders, using power irresponsibly, and nepotism, including creating a post for his wife in the church to siphon money.
“We love him (Ntombura) but we hate the things he had done to the church. We also love his wife (Pauline Ntombura) who has maybe helped him in all things that had happened,” Kanake said.
The group clarified that they are not a splinter group but full members of the Methodist Church who are against Ntombura's leadership.
