Simon Aluchio, a youth pastor at the Repentance and Holiness Ministry associated with Prophet David Owuor.
The suit by an evangelist against the leadership of the Ministry of Repentance and Holiness Church, associated with Prophet Edward David Owuor, over allegations of defamation has taken a new twist after he claimed the Church offered him a promotion in order to drop the case.
Simon Aluchio, who has sued Archbishop Jackson Barno of the Church’s Uasin Gishu branch, has declined the proposed elevation to Bishop status, terming it an attempt to entice him to withdraw the defamation suit.
He is accused of posting his photo with a woman while wearing tight jeans, an act the Church termed immoral.
The evangelist claims in court documents filed after the mediation process to reconcile both parties collapsed that he has been offered the position of Bishop to silence the matter.
“I have been promoted to the position of Bishop through WhatsApp to lure me to drop the case, but all that I am demanding is a public apology from the Church through the same social media that was used to tarnish my name,” said Mr Aluchio on Tuesday after hearing of his case was adjourned.\
He claimed the photo with his female senior manager was taken at an Eldoret hospital when they visited a patient but was circulated on various church platforms to depict him as an immoral church faithful.
Mr Aluchio, who is a bachelor, has accused his Bishop of posting offensive materials that depicted him as an immoral and evil person, leading to his suspension from the Church.
A member of Prophet Owuor's church has sued a deputy bishop over WhatsApp posts.
When the matter came up for mention before Eldoret Principal Magistrate Peter Ireri in February, the accused Bishop expressed confidence that they would amicably resolve their differences with the complainant for the sake of unity and harmony in the Church.
"I request this court to give us a chance to mediate before going to a full trial in this matter. I am optimistic that we shall solve the matter amicably through an out-of-court settlement," Bishop Barno told the court.
But Mr Aluchio states that his Bishop posted the offensive words on June 5, 2024, at about 11:03 pm through his mobile phone number without his consent.
He claims that the action by his Bishop has tarnished his reputation as a spiritual leader and frustrated his chances of getting a spouse of his choice from the Church.
"The publications against me that were posted to our Church WhatsApp group have damaged my good reputation within the Church youth ministry, where I served as a leader, and affected my professional, private, and public life," stated Mr Aluchio in the court documents.
Some of the said offensive materials against the evangelist that were posted on the Church's WhatsApp group by the embattled Bishop read in part:
“I hope all of us are doing well. I humbly direct all of you to take caution and distance yourselves from Mr Aluchio and his ungodly behaviour."
The post further read: "However much he may see himself more correct than others, we have areas he can't cross and support to be standing for our God and our only Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour."
Bishop Barno, in his post, lashed out at Mr Aluchio for being dishonest and insubordinate to God's established leadership.
"Mr Aluchio has been caught openly taking pictures loosely with a girl not even in the Church, but outside the Church, dressed in tight trousers. Was in secret but now open in the public," read the post in the court documents.
The Bishop sent a warning to the Church members in the WhatsApp group, which stated in part:
"All those associating with Mr Aluchio take heed. I see him saying our leaders should repent. Who between our spiritual parents and him should repent?" posed the cleric.
In his post to the Church youth, the Bishop had this to say: "Blessed youths, as your pastor, it is my responsibility to guide you. Take heed."
He summed up by asking the Church members to pray for Mr Aluchio so that he would learn what Christ stands for and be wise in his undertakings to avoid going astray and suffering due to foolishness.
In his defence, Bishop Barno admits that Mr Aluchio is a member of his Church where he shepherds as Bishop.
According to the man of God, he has committed no wrong and acted within the mandate of the Church.
Through his lawyer Charles Nyamweya, the cleric advised Aluchio to submit himself to the Church's disciplinary mechanism before moving to court.
"I advise you to submit to the Church's disciplinary mechanism and, having exhausted the same, then you can move to a court of law. Otherwise, the threats in your letter are just hot air, pedestrian and infantile to say the least," emphasized Bishop Barno.
Mr Aluchio is represented by Lawyer Awuor Otieno of DM and Associates Advocates.
The matter will be heard on September 4.
