A burial ceremony in Kiangai, Kirinyaga, was briefly disrupted after a PCEA preacher stopped mourners from delivering verbal tributes, triggering a heated reaction from the congregation and sparking widespread public backlash.
The incident occurred during the burial of Joan Wangui, a Family Bank employee, when her colleagues rose to pay their last respects.
Wangui’s manager delivered an emotional tribute, recalling their close working relationship since Wangui joined the bank in 2015, and then invited the Family Bank managing director to speak on behalf of the team.
However, before the managing director could address mourners, the officiating pastor abruptly intervened, insisting that PCEA rules only allowed written tributes.
“In this church, we do not allow unwritten tributes. That is why I have stopped Family Bank from speaking before the elders, so that whoever speaks next can keep this in mind,” the pastor said.
Her remarks were met with loud boos from the congregation, forcing her to pause as tensions rose at the graveside.
In response, the Family Bank managing director explained that the team had only come to honour their colleague and requested permission to sing in Wangui’s memory.
After initial resistance, the pastor relented following pressure from mourners and allowed the group to sing.
Before they left the podium, the pastor asked the group to remain standing for a prayer.
During the prayer, she reiterated church rules, stating that she had not been scheduled to officiate the burial and that she had forgiven the congregation before concluding the service.
Videos of the confrontation quickly circulated on social media, igniting debate over church protocol at funerals and the treatment of grieving families, with many calling on PCEA leadership to apologise.
Following the backlash, PCEA Naivasha Town Parish Reverend Ndoria Stephen issued an apology, distancing the church from the incident.
“This was an isolated incident and does not reflect the faith, ethos, values, or pastoral practice of the PCEA. Such conduct is contrary to our calling and our long-held commitment to dignity, peace, and servant leadership,” Reverend Ndoria said in a statement.
He added that the church had taken note of the incident and was addressing it through internal disciplinary channels, while also engaging pastorally with those affected to ensure a similar incident does not occur again.
The origin of the apology, however, has been largely questioned on social media due to its jurisdictional discrepancy.
