Clerics react to accusations of corruption

By Kepher Otieno

More than 200 Christian denominations in Nyanza put up a strong defence against accusations of corruption and hypocrisy levelled against the Church by Evangelist David Owuor.

Church leaders lashed out at Dr Owuor for terming the church corrupt and demanded his apology.

Led by Bishop Washington Ogonyo Ngede of Power of Jesus Around the World, the clerics accused Owuor of tarnishing the name of the Church for self-esteem.

"Nyanza Council of Church Leaders condemn Owuor for branding Church leaders in Kenya as corrupt and untrustworthy," said Ngede.

Evangelist David Owuor during A prayer meeting at Kisumu’s Moi Stadium on Thursday. Photo: Titus Munala/ Standard

The clergy were irked by the evangelist’s insinuation that some church leaders peddled Gospel of falsehood instead of preaching the living truth guided by the Bible.

Owuor made the remarks while preaching at Moi Stadium in Kisumu during healing prayers to mark the New Year.

In a Press statement read by Ngede yesterday, the leaders rebuffed Owuor for waging a smear campaign against the Church.

"His actions border on blasphemy since Biblical doctrines are clear that a prophet does not fight another," said Ngede.

He claimed it was sad the evangelist reasoned that Church leaders in the country rob their flock, arguing the Bible encourages tithing.

The clergy also expressed concern that the Bible abhors that a house divided cannot stand.

The hypocrite

"Pioneer evangelists such as Nicholas Bengo of South Africa who started preaching in the 1950s never waged war against fellow evangelists," said Ngede.

He further claimed that renowned world evangelists like Benny Hinn, Morris Cerullo, Oral Roberts, and Reinhardt Bonnke, pulled larger crowds than Owuor.

"Where does Owuor get money to finance his huge crusades? He is hypocrite number one. He does not get money from Heaven," the statement read in part.

This was in response to Owuor’s assertion that local church leaders are driven by an urge for money and deceive the flock that they have powers to heal.

"We beseech Owuor to apologise to the entire Church all over the world and particularly in Kenya where he unleashed his tirade against the clergy," the leaders said.

They defended the Church against further claims that it impeded the reform agenda.

"It is not true that Church leaders have failed to give direction on the reform agenda," they said.