What You Need to Know
The Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) is currently facing significant internal leadership disputes as it prepares for a major transition. The disagreements have exposed divisions within the church’s governance structure, particularly among senior officials. With a history of navigating challenges, PCEA’s upcoming leadership changes are seen as a critical test of its commitment to unity and
Africa-Press – Kenya. The Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA), one of Kenya’s oldest and most influential Christian institutions, is reportedly managing internal leadership disagreements that have exposed divisions within its top decision-making organs, at a time when the church is preparing for a major leadership transition.
Founded more than 140 years ago, PCEA has historically projected itself as a stable institution anchored on the Bible, established practice and procedure, and long-held traditions.
Over the decades, the church has navigated significant internal challenges, including the 1922 female circumcision crisis and later reforms that removed symbols and practices considered outdated.
Despite these episodes, it has maintained a nationwide presence and a central role in Kenya’s religious and social life.
At the core of the church’s governance structure is the General Assembly (GA), which elects senior officials.
The Moderator serves as the spiritual head, the Secretary General functions as the chief executive officer, while the Honorary Treasurer oversees financial matters Except for the Secretary General, who serves a single six-year term, and the Deputy Secretary General, who serves four years, other GA officials seek renewal of their mandates every three years.
The current 24th General Assembly, which enters its final year in 2026, has been characterised by internal disagreements that, according to officials familiar with church practice, have strained cohesion within the institution.
Deputy Secretary General Rev John Mbae, when contacted, confirmed to the Star that relations among senior church leaders have been strained.
However, he expressed optimism that the transition ahead would be smooth and guided by commitment to the welfare of the church.
“Consider that the Church deserves committed leaders who are in plenty. They may not be from my region or tribe, but should be supported if they have demonstrated what it requires to lead our great Church,” Rev Mbae said.
Interviews with several officials based at the church’s head office pointed to concerns over adherence to established procedures, levels of trust within the GA office, and differing interpretations of governance processes.
One area that has attracted internal debate is the office of the Honorary Treasurer. According to church procedure, a nominee for the position is required to be formally presented by his presbytery for an election to be considered valid.
Some officials interviewed said questions were raised internally over whether this process had been followed in the case of the current office holder. In response, the Honorary Treasurer, David Nderitu Ndumo, said his election followed established church procedures.
“The elections of General Assembly officials are held in strict compliance with the PCEA practice and procedure manual. My election as the Treasurer was no exception,” Ndumo told the Star in a text message.
“My name was recommended by a presbytery, actually five. The name was shortlisted and approved by the Business Committee and I was nominated by over 31 out of 61 Presbyteries. I was elected as the single nominee and commissioned by the 24th General Assembly,” he added.
Officials interviewed further indicated that a court order was issued challenging the installation of the Honorary Treasurer.
Efforts were made internally to have the order complied with, but these were not successful.
The matter later resulted in court proceedings in which sanctions were imposed, including a fine against the church’s top leadership last December.
Officials said this development further complicated relations within the GA leadership, and the status of the matter continues to generate differing interpretations.
Following these developments, some GA officials described the Honorary Treasurer’s office as having gained increased influence within the church’s administrative structure.
One of the most debated outcomes was the removal of a senior officer in the finance department.
According to multiple officials interviewed, the officer was sent home by the Business Committee allegedly without a formal disciplinary hearing, a move they said had operational implications.
Church accounts require three signatories drawn from a pool of four officials, including the Honorary Treasurer and the Finance Officer.
“With the senior officer in finance out of office, the remaining three officials were required to sign all cheques, effectively making the Honorary Treasurer’s signature mandatory for transactions,” said one senior official familiar with the process.
Other officials said this arrangement altered internal checks and balances, as the office charged with oversight also became a compulsory signatory.
On the broader issue of financial controls and oversight, Ndumo said the challenges were systemic rather than individual.
“As with many similar organizations, the governance structures has not been updated to meet the current challenges,” he said.
“In short, majority of the control structures are outdated making them easy to overrun,” he added.
Amid these internal disagreements, two forensic audits were commissioned to address concerns around governance and financial management.
Documents presented to the Business Committee indicate that one of the audits was initiated through internal processes involving senior officials.
The first forensic audit was conducted by a committee chaired by the current Honorary Treasurer, who had previously served as a member of the Business Committee.
According to officials interviewed, the audit cost the church Sh4 million and reported that no loss of funds had been established, despite earlier internal claims that significant sums were unaccounted for.
A second forensic audit was carried out by HG Gichohi Audit Firm.
According to an official familiar with church operations, this audit covered a four-year period that extended beyond the tenure of the current GA leadership.
Officials involved in the process said several large audit firms declined to undertake the forensic work, citing the absence of a complainant or whistleblower, which they described as a standard prerequisite for such investigations.
According to documents seen by the Star, the HG Gichohi report cited Sh13 million described as confirmed losses, including amounts relating to an undelivered lorry purchased by a PCEA institution and sums attributed to professional negligence involving mileage claims.
The report also referenced Sh34 million categorised as “suspected fraud.”
However, officials familiar with the review process said that when the figures were analysed alongside supporting documentation, the auditors acknowledged that no actual loss of funds had been conclusively established.
The report also referenced Sh317 million relating to cash management issues and Sh184 million linked to the church’s accounting treatment of debts under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS 15).
Some church officials argued that IFRS 15, which governs revenue from contracts with customers, is not applicable to a non-trading religious institution such as PCEA.
They said the amounts cited were explained and supported by documentation provided during the audit process. Commenting on the forensic audit findings, Ndumo said the report largely aligned with previous internal reviews.
“The findings are deep, yet corroborates with several internal audit reports made in the recent past,” he said.
“There are no differing interpretations. A forensic audit is just that. The report offers the Church an opportunity to review her systems and develop the right processes, policies and procedures,” he added.
Ndumo said recommendations cited in the report were standard.
“Of course, the report recommends recovery of lost funds, disciplinary measures for offenders and other measures. These are among general measures or outputs of any forensic audit,” he said.
Rev Mbae Mbae on his part dismissed the audits and termed the process a “witch-hunt.”
The deputy secretary general maintaining that the church remained focused on stability and continuity.
The forensic audit also cited a figure of Sh1.5 billion described as “suspected fraud,” a figure that has been strongly disputed within church leadership circles.
Officials questioned how the amount could be reconciled with the church’s annual budget of Sh257 million, noting that total expenditure over four years would be significantly lower.
According to officials, the auditors later sought additional time to certify figures described as unconfirmed, a request that was declined by the Business Committee.
Officials further stated that the audit did not identify any individual or entity as having benefited from the amounts described, and that the report itself contained a disclaimer requiring the auditor’s consent before any part could be used for external purposes.
They said the audit was intended to strengthen internal controls rather than form the basis of legal proceedings.
The forensic audit process has also been linked by some officials to long-standing disputes surrounding Milele Hotel in Mombasa, a church-owned project that remains under receivership.
In a previous General Assembly, ministers’ tithes were directed towards supporting the hotel, a decision that officials said drew criticism from sections of the clergy, including members of the current leadership.
According to officials interviewed, efforts to have the property returned from the receiver manager since November last year have not succeeded.
They further said that an advertisement offering the hotel for sale was placed on public platforms without the knowledge of some stakeholders, including ministers and elders.
Officials said governance decisions relating to the project, including a decision by a senior leader to halt further construction after describing the project as unviable, contributed to financial challenges through accumulated interest charges, which they estimated at nearly Sh700 million.
The hotel remains under receivership.
Beyond financial matters, leadership succession has added to internal tensions.
The Star established that in the course of 2025, the Secretary General was elected as an executive member of the World Council of Reformed Churches, representing Africa, during a meeting held in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Officials said several heads of department attended the meeting, despite reservations expressed by the Moderator.
Subsequently, the Appointment Committee reassigned eight out of ten heads of department at the head office.
Rev Mbae said the transfers had presented a “very significant challenge” at the head office. He nonetheless maintained that the transition process would ultimately prioritise unity and service to the church.
As the church prepares to nominate and elect a new Moderator, Secretary General and Honorary Treasurer, officials within PCEA say internal competition and disagreements may intensify.
Some officials view the commissioning of forensic audits and recent disciplinary actions as part of broader disagreements over leadership succession, rather than as purely administrative measures.
For an institution that has endured more than a century of theological and organisational challenges, the coming year is widely viewed by church officials as a significant test of its commitment to its stated principles of practice, procedure and unity.
Founded over 140 years ago, the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) has established itself as a significant religious institution in Kenya. Throughout its history, the church has faced various internal challenges, including crises related to outdated practices and reforms aimed at modernizing its governance. Despite these hurdles, PCEA has maintained a strong presence in the country’s religious landscape, influencing both spiritual and social spheres.
As the church approaches a major leadership transition, it grapples with internal disagreements that threaten its cohesion. The governance structure, which includes the General Assembly and various elected officials, has been tested by a
