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An Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) pastor says he will no longer preside over funeral services of people with questionable characters.
Rev Mark Kithokilo of St Philips ACK Church, Bungule, in Kasigau location, said he would keep off burials of drunkards, drug addicts, witches among other wrongdoers.
“I’ll from now stop conducting funerals of people who die from the effects of alcoholism, drugs and miraa or those steeped in sorcery,” said Kithokilo, leaving hundreds of mourners attending the burial of a church elder astounded.
The man of the cloth said he had dedicated most of his life-saving souls through the church and outreach programmes by preaching the gospel, but regretted that some residents were still stuck in their wicked ways.
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He said he would only preside over burials of committed Christians.
The pastor said burial ceremonies involving people of questionable characters should be conducted by their partners in crime and not the church.
“I have tried my best, both in church and in my outreach programmes, to persuade residents to abandon their bad ways and turn to God but in vain,” he said.
“There are no two ways. People have to change their bad behaviours and follow Christ’s teachings failure to which the church will disown them,” he cautioned.
He noted that there were people who claim to be ACK members but never go to church.
“If anything happens to such people, where will they get spiritual services from,” posed the pastor.
At the same time, the cleric decried widespread sale and consumption of illicit brews and drugs in the area.
He said the vices had affected development and education standards in the region, and also contributed to increased crime.
He said a majority of those affected by alcohol and drug menace are the youth.
“If we are not careful, the menace will wipe out productive youth,” said the pastor.
Kithokilo was speaking during the burial of 74-year-old church elder Bernard Mwaluda. Former Taita Taveta Senato Dan Mwazo also attended the funeral and addressed mourners.
The pastor further took a swipe at some wealthy individuals in the region for being arrogant and for despising the poor.
He advised the church faithful to uphold love and tolerance and contribute towards activities geared at uplifting the living stands of the less fortunate.
Kithokilo reminded the rich that it is God who has blessed them and they should spend their wealth wisely.
“If you try to use material possessions to hurt others, then you are a disgrace to humanity and before God,” he told mourners.
