Chaos Erupts at Eldoret Church: Police Step In as Rival Factions Clash Over Finances
Chaos was narrowly averted on Sunday at the Kao La Amani African Inland Church in Eldoret when police intervened to diffuse rising tensions between rival factions entangled in a dispute over church leadership and finances.
The long-standing conflict erupted dramatically when worshippers arrived for Sunday service only to find the church doors locked, preventing entry.
With a congregation exceeding 2,000 members, the church experienced significant disruption as internal factions clashed over the recent election of church officials.
The newly elected church council, led by Joel Kimisoi, was set to assume leadership duties on Sunday but found their plans derailed by a rival group that opposed their election.
Kimisoi, the new council leader, expressed frustration, saying, “We had come to worship and praise God peacefully, but we were met with locked doors.”
The faction that secured the church doors has publicly criticized the new leadership, citing alleged irregularities in the election and concerns about financial management.
This group has explicitly rejected the authority of the new officials and pledged to continue their opposition.
To manage the escalating situation, police were deployed to prevent potential violence.
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Despite the strong police presence, many worshippers chose to hold spontaneous prayer sessions in small groups outside the church before leaving, concerned about the possibility of further unrest.
In a related incident, at PCEA Kiamwathi Church in Nyeri, a group of Gen Z youth took action by locking out fellow worshippers in protest of the dismissal of their cherished church leader, Reverend Lucy.
The young protesters, carrying placards with messages such as “We are not cooling down until our Reverend Lucy comes back” and “We need a clean church, No Reverend, No Peace, No Church,” demanded her reinstatement.
This surge of youth activism, particularly among Gen Z, is increasingly evident in religious communities nationwide.
Just weeks ago, Gen Z protesters attempted to disrupt a church service attended by President William Ruto following anti-government demonstrations across various regions.
Chaos Erupts at Eldoret Church: Police Step In as Rival Factions Clash Over Finances
