A Sunday service at the Kiamwathi Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) took a dramatic turn on August 18, 2024, as a group of irate Gen Z youths staged a protest against the church’s leadership.
Arriving early in the morning, the predominantly young group disrupted the proceedings by locking the church gates, denying access to other congregants eager to attend the service.
Their actions were fueled by allegations that church elders were attempting to unjustly dismiss Reverend Lucy Kiriungi without valid cause.
Armed with placards emblazoned with powerful messages, the protesters chanted their grievances. One sign boldly proclaimed, “We are not cooling down until our Reverend Lucy comes back,” while another declared,
“Youth #Occupy church. We need a clean church. No Rev, no peace, no church.”
Among the voices from the protest, Edwin, a prominent figure in the demonstration, articulated the frustrations of the group.
“We’ve said no reverend, no service. We refuse to accept this matter of dismissing the pastor for no reason,” he stated, sending a clear message to church leadership about their unwavering stance.
As tensions escalated, Edwin further emphasized the need for peaceful demonstrations to ensure their concerns were appropriately addressed.
“We are determined to prevent the service from commencing so they take us seriously,” he explained. “They are fabricating stories to tarnish Reverend Kiriungi’s reputation.”
In a show of solidarity, another young woman joined the conversation, voicing her discontent with the unfolding situation at the church. “The church belongs to everyone, and our reverend has committed no wrongdoing,” she expressed.
“There are individuals with personal interests who want to force her out for their benefit, and we will not allow that.”
