PCEA Moderator Rev Thugu Mutahi has found himself on the receiving end of one his Church’s faithful for admonishing political leaders in the country.
Speaking in Parliament, The Leader of Majority Hon Kimani Ichungwa admonished Thegu instead, for his criticism of political leaders making contributions to Church saying the prelate was acting against the teaching of the scriptures given that leaders are anointed by God.
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account,” he said, quoting the Book of Hebrews Chapter 12 verse 16 of the Holy Scriptures.
He further told Rev Thegu that the contributions the political class has been making in Church is not to please man but God, so he has no right to castigate leaders for such.
“My own moderator Thegu , whom I saw last night on TV admonishing this house that this house is captured. Just because you are my moderator and you cannot admonish me simply because you come from Nyeri that we have passed bills with lightning speed,” he said.
He retorted that it is that speed that is expected from them as legislators asking religious leaders not to be swayed by biases emanating from the fact that a politician may be coming from their same neighborhood.
“I know we all come from backgrounds and I know some of these religious leaders because of where they come from but they must divorce their personal feelings from their church work. I also want to say things based on where I come from but I cannot,” referring to the fact that both Rigathi Gachagua and Moderator Thegu hail from Nyeri.
He warned religious leaders to keep to their lanes and promised to continue giving to the Church as their spiritual obligations
“I want to tell our religious leaders, when we do good and when we give, we do not do it to please my moderator or satisfy the whims of my reverend, we do good because it is pleasing to our God and we shall coniine to do it,” he spoke in defiance.
He further clarified that as political leaders they have never begged to be given a chance to speak to the congregants but it is the hosting prelates that insist they speak.
“If religious leaders think they can intimidate us, I want to say that, I have never walked into a church and asked a single religious leader to give me an opportunity to speak to the church.”
Noting that respect is earned and that it is a two-way traffic, Hon Ichungwa narrated how “I heard my own moderator of the Presbyterian Church say things that I would not expect a church leader to say and speak of leaders.”
Notably, Moderator Thegu is facing a contempt of court charge at the High Court after he defied court orders stopping him and the Secretary General of the PCEA General Assembly Robert Waihenya from installing elder David Nderitu Ndumo after the latter failed to repay a Sheria SACCO Sh 5.8 million loan guaranteed by 15 people with their case set for January 21, next year.
