Methodist Church stopped from holding annual conference

The Methodist Church in Kenya (MCK) Rev. Joseph Ntombura (right) addresses the Media in Mombasa county on Sunday,09th August ,2015. PHOTO BY MAARUFU MOHAMED/STANDARD

The High Court has temporarily stopped the Methodist Church of Kenya from holding its annual conference.

Justice Mbogoli Msagha issued the orders barring the meeting planned for Saturday, July 29, at the Methodist Resort and Conference Centre, pending the hearing of a case seeking the removal of presiding bishop, Joseph Ntombura.

Four church members, Godfrey Simiyu, Mathew Kaburu, Kobia Michubu and Charles Kinoti, have sued Rev Ntombura (pictured), the Methodist Church and its registered trustees.

The four have been seeking to have the presiding bishop compelled to file his academic papers in court and declared unfit to hold office, among other things.

Justice Joseph Sergon had made a preliminary ruling on the case on July 22, 2016, granting some of the prayers sought by the petitioners.

He however ruled that most of the other issues should be canvased in the main hearing.

The petitioners applied to have the conference stopped on the basis that it could be used to extend the disputed term of the embattled bishop, who was elected in 2013.

Justice Mbogoli certified the application as urgent and directed the parties to pick the earliest hearing dates at the Milimani Court registry. [Wainaina Ndung'u]