KISII: FEUD BETWEEN TWO PASTORS AND THE SDA CHURCH

The Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) community in Kisii has become embroiled in a dispute following the exclusion of two pastors from preaching to members by church leadership. The pastors hired attorneys to contest the decision.

The two pastors, Martha Isaac and Nixon Matara, who are well-liked by the congregation because of their sermons, demand justice and an impartial hearing from the church hierarchy.

The two are upset because the leadership of Southeast Kenya Field (SEKF) decided to spread a message saying that they were not permitted to speak at camp meetings, funerals, or public evangelism, as evidenced by a demand letter dated June 5, 2024.

A portion of the statement said, "Dear leaders and pastors, this is to inform you that Pr Matara and Martha Isaak of Matagaro will not be allowed to conduct any services at funerals, public evangelism, and camp meetings until the Field Executive committee sitting in mid-June clears them."

It goes on: "This is due to several complaints regarding their behavior during funerals. Please let the elders and members know about this information. Without permission, they leave the house, even without the host pastors' knowledge, and go outside SEKF. Please help with this.

On June 7, Pastor James Ondabu, the President of SEKF, verified over the phone with The Nation that the two preachers had been suspended.

Anytime someone preaches in the church, they have to follow a set procedure. Pr. Ondabu stated, "For example, I can't preach in Nakuru if I don’t obey the rules.

The reprieve

Through Wilkins Ochoki, their representative, the two argue that the field leadership made an administrative mistake by suspending them without cause, going against the SDA Church's governing procedures and policies.

Pastors Martha and Matara further contend that the suspension violates other laws of natural justice and the norms of Article 47 of the Kenyan Constitution on Fair Administrative Action.

Considering the aforementioned, our clients should have been given the chance to review the accusations made against them as well as the supporting documentation. The attorney's letter states, "In addition, they are entitled to a fair hearing before any administrative action being taken against them.

The two pastors assert that they are SDA members and ordained leaders who have been faithfully carrying out their responsibilities, which has led to the expansion of their reputation on a national and worldwide scale.

"Trauma to the emotions"

They claim that the activities of the SEKF against them have violated their rights to human dignity, freedom of conscience, religion, belief, and opinion, freedom of expression, and freedom to move about and live anywhere by Articles 28, 32, 33, and 39 of the Kenyan Constitution.

The field leadership, according to Martha and Matara, has caused them great mental pain, emotional trauma, and psychological distress "because of the widespread defamatory statements."

The pastors who are upset demand that the SEKF leadership remove the message and publicly apologize to them as a remedy.

"Take notice and be warned that our firm has irrevocable instructions to institute legal proceedings, in a court of law, needless to say at your peril as to costs and attendant consequences arising therefrom, unless you pull down the message and issue a public apology to our clients within seven days,” the demand letter states.

A mere two weeks prior, the church called off a musical extravaganza that South Mugirango MP Silvanus Osoro had organized, citing the likelihood of political manipulation.