Court allows teacher to sue church over excommunication

By Stella Mwangi

A teacher has been granted leave by the High Court to sue a church for allegedly excommunicating him.

Mr Josephat Kabutiei, 44, accuses African Inland Church (AIC)’s Bishop Silas Yego and the Reverend John Chirchir of frustrating his efforts to have his name cleared of allegations made against him by a woman 14 years ago.

He vows to remain a bachelor until the church clears him of the allegations.

Kabutiei alleges that in 1994 a fellow female church member accused him of intending to break her marriage and spread rumours that he had requested her for a relationship.

Kabutiei, who was then a youth leader at AIC Koiserat Church in Kabarnet, said Mary Komen was then engaged to another church member. The allegations led to his excommunication.

The church, on its part, has accused Kabutiei of being "a person not in full control of his mental facilities" and wants the matter dismissed.

Emukule asked the counsel to get a hearing date in the court registry.

Kabutiei says he has never married or had a relationship with a woman due to the trauma caused.

"The allegations led to me being shunned, scolded, and besmirched by my colleagues and the church authority," Kabutiei says in documents filed at the Nakuru High Court.