Top cleric 'siphoned money from church'

Former PCEA Moderator David Gathanju (left) with James Muiruri and Peter Kamuthu Mwangi in court. [Kamau Maichuhie, Standard]

Former Presbyterian Church of Eastern Africa (PCEA) moderator David Gathanju and two others transferred millions from a church account illegally, a court was told yesterday.

Giving her testimony, Jane Mwihaki, a church accountant, said Mr Gathanju and his co-accused James Muiruri Njane and Peter Kamuthu transferred Sh4.5 million from one church account to another where they were signatories without approval.

Before Kiambu Principal Magistrate Stella Atambo, Ms Mwihaki accused Mr Njane, the then finance officer, of authorising the transfer of money from operations account to the disaster account.

Ms Mwihaki explained that the operations account is where rent from the church's properties was usually deposited.

“Ordinarily, the transfer of the money is supposed to be signed by the Secretary General of the PCEA General Assembly Reverend Peter Kania. He never signed,” said Mwihaki.

Gathanju, Njane and Kamuthu are charged with collectively stealing Sh50.9 million from the church.

They are said to have carried out the fraud at  PCEA headquarters in Nairobi's South C estate, on diverse dates between January 2, 2016, and June 30, 2017.

Kamuthu was also charged with 12 counts of forgery.

He is accused that on diverse dates between January 20, 2016 and January 12, 2017, at Equity Bank, Nairobi West branch, he forged signatures on an Equity Bank funds transfer form.

The forged signatures belonging to Peter Kania, Alfred Kanga and Amon Nderi.

Kathanju and his co-accused denied the charges and were released each on Sh1 million bond.

Mwihaki also informed the court how Njane, in May 2017, wrote off a Sh6.6 million debt belonging to Nyeri Presbytery.