Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Kenya Coast Field (KCF) suspended several prominent pastors last week, citing a directive from the East Kenya Union Conference (ACTION 24EXCOM-05S) then went ahead to retract this controversial directive.
In a letter dated July 10, 2024, signed by Pr. Eliab Ombuoro, Executive Secretary, the church officially withdraws the earlier suspension directive and instructs all recipients to disregard it.
His earlier official communication dated July 4, 2024 listed Pastor Kenneth Maina, Evangelist Shaban Ndege, Evangelist Millicent Odhiambo, Pastor Elizabeth Mokoro and Evangelist Lantern as persons prohibited from conducting any church services.
This decision rooted in concerns over maintaining doctrinal and organizational integrity sparked widespread debate among the congregation.
Among those suspended is Pastor Elizabeth Mokoro who stands out due to her immense popularity and engaging preaching style.
Her sermons, which tackle real social issues and resonate deeply with the congregation, have made her a beloved figure.
This popularity is said to have also made her a target within the church hierarchy which appears to prefer more traditional and less engaging preaching styles.
This suspension comes shortly after the removal of Pastors Matara and Martha Isaac, who were known for incorporating humour into their sermons, much to the delight of worshippers.
Their approach was deemed inappropriate by church leaders.