By Anchor Writer
Nairobi, Kenya — A deepening leadership and accountability crisis within the Africa Brotherhood Church (ABC) has taken a new turn, with suspended members demanding an independent audit of church finances and threatened sanctions on contributions to the Nairobi headquarters.
In an open letter to Archbishop Timothy N. Ndambuki and the church leadership, the aggrieved members have accused the leadership of failing to address concerns over financial transparency, management of church properties and the welfare of congregations.
They have also called for a boycott of church music festivals until their demands are addressed, escalating a dispute that has increasingly spilled into the public domain.
The members insist their campaign is motivated by concern for the institution rather than hostility towards its leadership.
“We are not here to destroy the Church. We are here to save it,” they declared in the statement issued to the press- defiantly outside the Makadara Church that remained closed.
The latest intervention comes against the backdrop of the expulsion of six members of the church following an internal dispute over unresolved governance and accountability concerns. The congregation is also demanding the transfer of Nairobi ABC Bidhop Dr.Mary Nzyoki- who is the wife of Archbishop Ndambuki.
The church’s National Governing Council that the Most Reverend Ndambuki chairs has since defended Dr Nzyoki with the church head denying conflict of interest in the matter.
The suspended members’ statement signals that the disagreement is no longer confined to disciplinary action against individual members but is becoming a broader challenge to the administration of the church and its financial stewardship.
The members cite declining attendance in Nairobi congregations as evidence of a growing crisis of confidence.
They claim Makadara, which previously attracted approximately 300 worshippers, now records between 85 and 90, including the choir. Starehe, which also reportedly had about 300 members, is said to attract between 70 and 80 worshippers on a good day.
The statement further identifies Kariobangi, Imara, Ayani and Kibera among congregations experiencing similar declines.The figures have not been independently verified, and the church leadership has yet to publicly respond to the latest allegations.
Nevertheless, the members argue that the reported decline should concern the leadership, warning that the loss of confidence among worshippers cannot be addressed through disciplinary measures alone.“People do not abandon the house of God without reason. They leave when trust is broken,” the statement says.
At the centre of the dispute is a demand for an immediate external audit of all Nairobi sub-headquarters accounts and existing projects, including the ABC account.
The members want the exercise conducted three times annually, with the resulting reports made available to congregations and the wider public.
They have also called for clergy to be removed from financial management responsibilities, arguing that qualified and independent professionals should oversee church accounts.
The demand reflects their concern that the handling of members’ contributions should be separated from spiritual leadership and subjected to independent scrutiny.
The statement also seeks a comprehensive explanation of Tunu, including its purpose, management, previous collections and the projects financed through the contributions.
Church properties and investments have emerged as another major source of contention.
The members want a full account of Imani Plaza Phases One and Two, the church guest house, the multipurpose hall and the church bus.
They are seeking disclosure of the amounts invested, the people responsible for managing the projects and the destination of any income generated.
The women’s bus project has also been singled out for scrutiny.According to the statement, women contributed towards the project, while President William Ruto also reportedly provided financial support.
The members are demanding disclosure of the amount contributed by the President and how the funds were utilised.
They argue that the women who mobilised resources for the project deserve a clear account of its financial position and beneficiaries.
The statement further raises questions over the ownership of church properties, demanding disclosure of the names appearing on official title deeds.
Particular attention is drawn to property next to the ABC headquarters, with the members insisting that church assets should be held for the benefit of the institution and its membership rather than individuals.
The financial questions extend to the ABC Sacco and Undugu TV, whose ownership, governance and financial positions the members want disclosed.
They are demanding an account of how members’ money has been used and what remains of their investments.
The Sacco has attracted particular attention over the so-called Konza Investment, in which members reportedly invested Sh30,000 per share.
The statement claims that members seeking information about their shares have been unable to obtain satisfactory answers.
It demands disclosure of where the funds were invested, what was acquired, who holds the relevant records and when members can expect repayment or access to their shares.
The allegations raise questions about the protection of members’ savings and the systems through which church-affiliated financial investments are managed.
The members have also demanded accountability for youth projects, including an initiative at Katelembu, saying young people who mobilised funds deserve to know what became of their contributions.
They want the church to publish a clear and equitable policy on clergy remuneration and benefits, arguing that transparency would eliminate speculation and ensure junior clergy are adequately catered for.
Beyond financial matters, the statement raises concerns over what the members describe as homosexuality within the church, including among clergy.
They want the leadership to address the issue in accordance with the church constitution, its teachings and established disciplinary procedures.
The demand introduces a further dimension to the dispute, which has increasingly combined questions of institutional governance, financial accountability and doctrinal integrity.
In their closing appeal, the members have called on the Archbishop and church leadership to respond to their demands within a reasonable timeline.
Until then, they have urged Nairobi sub-pastorate churches to suspend contributions to the headquarters and boycott music festivals.
The proposed action could have significant implications for the church’s finances and its ability to sustain activities at the headquarters.
It also presents the leadership with a difficult choice: engage the aggrieved members and address their concerns, or risk a further deterioration of relations with congregations whose contributions sustain the institution.
The Anchor could not independently verify the financial allegations contained in the statement or establish the current status of the projects and investments cited. Meanwhile calls made to Archbishop Ndambuki went unanswered.
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