PCEA Clarifies Position on Alleged State House Visit

By Monyonge O’kebati 

The Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) has distanced itself from reports that the church was planning to send a delegation to State House to seek financial assistance or political patronage.
In a statement dated August 28, 2026, PCEA Moderator of the 24th General Assembly, Rt. Rev. Thegu Mutahi, addressed all presbytery clerks following public attention surrounding a trending video clip alleging that some clergy were planning a visit to State House to seek financial favours.
The church said it remains a respectable, independent and non-partisan institution, stressing that its financial challenges should not compromise its conscience, doctrines or ability to speak truth to power.
“For the avoidance of doubt,” the statement says, PCEA is not organising, sponsoring or endorsing any delegation to visit any politician to seek financial favours or political patronage.
The clarification specifically mentions potential visits to State House, Wamunyoro, Teikuru and Sisi ndio Sifuna, indicating that the church does not want its leadership or structures associated with political fundraising or patronage.
Church defends independence
The PCEA leadership emphasized that the church believes in what it describes as “political hygiene”, maintaining that its independence from partisan political interests must be protected.
The statement comes amid increased political activity in the country as political leaders and various groups begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The church maintained that although it faces financial challenges, those difficulties should not force it to compromise its religious principles or its responsibility to speak truth to those in power.
Call for calm
The PCEA leadership also appealed to its members to remain calm, prayerful and confident in the church, apparently seeking to reassure congregants following the circulation of the video and the resulting public discussion.
The statement was signed by Rt. Rev. Thegu Mutahi, Moderator of the 24th General Assembly, and copied to the Secretary General, Deputy Secretary General and Honorary Treasurer.
Key message
The statement does not deny that individual clergy may have discussed or contemplated political engagements; rather, it makes clear that PCEA as an institution is not organising, sponsoring or endorsing a delegation to seek financial favours or political patronage from politicians.
The church’s position is therefore a reaffirmation of its institutional independence and non-partisan character at a time when political activity is intensifying ahead of the 2027 elections.