SDA church split over affair between pastor and elder's wife

A sex scandal at the SDA church pitting two groups of elders against each other has led to the split of Thika Central SDA Church.

131 leaders have accused the East Kenya Union Conference (EKUC) leaders of not taking appropriate action when they received reports about the sex scandal. 

EKUC President Pastor Samuel Makori has however refuted the elders' allegations, arguing that the contract of the pastor involved in the sex scandal was not renewed. 

According to Makori, every SDA church level work accordingly. 

He stated that the elder's wife allegedly involved in the sex scandal was summoned in March concerning the issue but she denied ever having an affair with the alleged preacher.

However, the woman confessed to the affair with the pastor when she was called back, Makori added. 

The EKUC president maintained that woman confessed because she was manipulated into thinking that her husband would take her back. 

Makori said, “With that manipulation she wrote a letter to us saying it’s true that she had an affair but she did not specify what kind of relationship they had.” 

He claimed that they are ready to defend the leadership's decision regarding the matter, terming it as 'church politics.' 

According to Makori, the woman had inconsistencies in her statement when she was cross examined. 

She earlier said they used to meet in the pastor's car but later said they met in his house. Her husband could not tell the source of the audio he took to Mr Makori and the other leaders. 

However, the 131 elders have insisted that the EUKC leadership has not yet taken action against the pastor as the leaders claimed. 

Guided by lawyer Danstan Omari, the elders have opted to move to court seeking to remove seven officials from the office for not adhering to the church policy.

The elders' District Secretary, Alfred Omwando, said they wanted to defend the image of the church which is only possible if all the current officials are removed for gross violation of the church manual.

While addressing the congregation at Thika Central SDA church, Elder Ezekiel Kurunye, confirmed that they have M-Pesa statements exposing how the pastor had sent money to the elder’s wife for over two years.