A usually peaceful Sunday service at Kiamwathi Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) in Nyeri Town turned chaotic on August 18, 2024, as a group of determined Gen Z youths staged a bold protest against the church’s leadership.
The young worshippers, who arrived early at the church premises, locked the gates, preventing other congregants from entering and effectively halting the service.
The youths’ anger was directed at the church elders, whom they accused of unjustly attempting to dismiss Reverend Lucy Kiriungi without cause.
Carrying placards with messages such as “We are not cooling down until our reverend Lucy comes back” and “Youth #Occupy church.
We need a clean church. No Rev, no peace, no church,” the group made their demands clear.
Speaking to a certain media from within the church compound, one of the protesters, Edwin, voiced the group’s frustration.
“Jina ni Edwin. Tumesema no reverend no service. Tumekataa hii mambo ya kufukuza mchungaji for no reason,” he stated.
Edwin further explained that the youth, representing the Nyeri joint parish, had decided to stage peaceful demonstrations to prevent the service from proceeding until their concerns were taken seriously.
“Kama wana youth wa Nyeri joint parish tumeamua tutafanya maandamano, peaceful demonstrations tuzuie service kuanza so that they take us seriously. Hakuna mambo ya kuketi kuongea,” he declared.
The protesters accused the church elders of fabricating stories to tarnish Reverend Kiriungi’s reputation, with the aim of removing her from her position.
“Sahi wanataka kutufukuzia mchungaji amekua akifanya kazi na wanatumia njia hazifai, wametengeneza stories za kumuharibia jina ati hafanyi kazi yake,” Edwin added.
The protesters vowed to continue their demonstrations until Reverend Lucy Kiriungi is reinstated, declaring that they would not allow church services to proceed without her.
The dramatic events have left the congregation and church leadership grappling with how to resolve the escalating tensions.
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