Church rejects Sh30k seat after governor sits on it at the pulpit
There was drama at a Catholic church in Molo sub county in Nakuru after a seat donated to the church was rejected by clerics because Governor Kinuthia Mbugua sat on it.
The chair that cost Sh30,000 was donated by popular businessman Joseph Kahuria who presented it on Sunday during a thanksgiving service at the church.
Mr Kahuria, who was accompanied by his family members, had called on Mr Kinuthia to test how comfortable the chair was before handing it to the clerics.
SACRILEGE
However, the presiding priest Fr Anthony Kinuthia said they would not accept the gift because allowing the governor to sit on it is sacrilege.
“It is very wrong for you to allow a person to sit on a ‘gift’ meant for the church at the pulpit. It is not acceptable to the church,” Fr Kinuthia said before ordering the seat be taken outside immediately.
The heavy rainfall that soon followed, ramming onto the chair, did not dissuade the cleric’s decision.
When the Governor stood up to address the congregation, he kept off the issue, and instead urged the residents to maintain peace during and after the election period.
However, after the mass, Fr Kinuthia called the governor and had a brief chat when the county boss apologized on his behalf and that of his supporters.
“I was did not know that Kahuria would call me to the pulpit. Receive my apologies and those of my supporters,” Mr Mbugua said.
A GOOD SEAT
Mr Kahuria told the press that he gave the governor that opportunity not knowing it was against the church law and only wanted the governor to confirm to the church that it was indeed a good seat.
“All I wanted was the governor to assure the believers that the seat was very comfortable before it could be blessed. I was not aware that it was going against the church rules,” Kahuria said.
He added that the seat was purchased from a local store where other customers are likely to have sat on it, hence a prayer was enough to sanctify it.
Fr Kinuthia has maintained that the seat will not be accepted into the church or used at the pulpit as intended by the buyer.
