Parties encouraged to make use of alternate dispute resolution mechanisms

PCEA retired moderator Rev David Gathanju(right) Esther Wanjiru, Peter Mwangi and Stephen Muhoro at the dock at Kiambu Law Courts .The five were charged with conspiracy from the church.PHOTO BY KAMAU MAICHUHIE.

The case in which former Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) moderator David Gathanju and four others are charged with stealing Sh39 million will start on January 18.

This is after a bid to have the matter settled out of court through alternative dispute resolution mechanism flopped.

Mr Gathanju, who served as the moderator of the PCEA General Assembly between 2009 and 2015, was in October last year charged with stealing Sh39 million alongside Esther Wanjiru, Peter Mwangi, Stephen Muhoro and James Muiruri, who are all former employees of the church.

The parties in the case had previously indicated to the court their willingness to settle the matter out of court.

Kiambu Senior Principal Magistrate Stella Atambo who is hearing the case had encouraged the parties to make use of alternate dispute resolution mechanisms and agree on the matter.

However while appearing before Kiambu Principal Magistrate Justus Kituku during the mention of the case, retired High Court Judge Robert Mutitu, the lawyer representing Gathanju, told the court no agreement on reconciliation or settling the matter out of court had been achieved.

“We are ready to proceed on January 18. As of now, there is no agreement on settling the matter out of court,” said Mr Mutitu.