The PCEA Logo
Elder David Nderitu Ndumo has served as the PCEA Church’s honorary treasurer for sometime now.
However, a faction of the church has found him unfit to continue holding that office, following his proven inability to repay a PCEA members’ loan.
On Tuesday, 9th April 2024, prominent retired Reverend Timothy Njoya abruptly left the inauguration ceremony at St. Andrew’s Church in Nairobi. He disagreed with the church leadership’s decision to install Elder Nderitu Ndumo into office against a court ruling.
PCEA Moderator Proceeds with Treasurer Installation In spite of a Court Order
The current church moderator, Reverend Patrick Thegu Mutahi, was determined to proceed with the installation of the embattled elder. This was despite an injunction a Nairobi court issued on 8th April, following an appeal by the aggrieved parties.
Following the development, Elder Nderitu Ndumo can now participate in determining the fate of the church’s Sh.1 billion budget.
During his tenure in office, Elder Nderitu Ndumo is alleged to have taken a loan worth millions of shillings from the PCEA Sacco. For such a loan application to be approved, the applicant must have a certain number of Sacco members guarantee the loan amount.
Elder Ndumo has since failed to meet his loan repayment obligation, and the loan guarantors are now being held accountable for that debt. So far, the loan capital balance is said to be slightly over 5 million shillings. However, Elder Nderitu is required to pay over 7 million shillings to cover the capital balance, accrued interest, and other charges.
Pecuniary Embarrassment a Problem in Kenyan Law
Normally, a person known to suffer pecuniary embarrassment is not eligible to hold a public office. This is so, not only in the societal unwritten law, but also in the Kenyan statute.
In February 2024, auctioneers moved in to attach Elder Nderitu’s property, for his failure to repay the 7-million-shilling PCEA Sacco loan. They are reported to have taken away cars, electronics and other valuables from his home.
The Elder’s home is in Marurui, a Nairobi suburb which, in recent years, has attracted young Kenyans within the upper middle class.
Marurui is also home to the Starehe Girls’ Center, a sister school to Starehe Boys’ Center that was founded by Dr. Geoffrey William Griffin.
It is also home to the prestigious Windsor Golf Club, owned by the family of the late Minister John Michuki.
Michuki was arguably the most popular minister in Kenyan history. He was particularly held in awe for changing the public transport sector from a chaotic maze to a decent transport system.
All Eyes on the PCEA, Known for its Practice & Procedure
The PCEA is famous for its zeal in sticking to the rules. Sometimes congregants find the PCEA leadership unnecessarily too rigid.
Nevertheless, from the headquarters down to the congregation level, the leadership is guided by a set of written rules. These rules are famously referred to as Practice and Procedure, P & P, or, humorously, PP.
This time, the PCEA church has acted out of character and ignored a court order. Consequently, members of the PCEA and other Christians are likely to take more interest in the Nderitu Ndumo case.
Other Kenyans, too, are likely to observe the direction the PCEA church will take going forward, with regards to its leadership.
One factor likely to fuel public curiosity is the fact that the auctioning of Elder Nderitu’s property was sanctioned by Kenya’s Cooperative Tribunal.
Another factor is that Lady Justice Asenath Ongeri of the High Court issued a relevant court order on 8th April 2024. The order prohibited the PCEA from installing Elder David Nderitu Ndumo as honorary treasurer during the church’s 24th General Assembly.
The GA took place on 9th April 2024 as scheduled, and was graced by President William Ruto, and his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.