What started as a holy rebuke between a bishop and a youth pastor in the Repentance and Holiness Ministry associated with Prophet David Owuor has now turned into a full court battle after efforts to reconcile the two failed.
The genesis of the conflict between Uasin-Gishu Repentance and Holiness Ministry Branch Archbishop Jackson Barno and his youth pastor Simon Aluchio is a photo the latter allegedly took with a woman wearing trousers.
Simon Aluchio, a youth pastor at the Repentance and Holiness Ministry associated with Prophet David Owuor.
Photo credit: Titus Ominde | Nation Media Group
The church leadership condemned the youth pastor on its WhatsApp group for taking a photo with a woman in jeans, noting it did not stand well with the church policy.
In the matter before the Eldoret Court, the youth pastor claims that the spiritual filthiness accusation levelled against him by his archbishop through the church WhatsApp group named Overseers UG Main Altar caused him to lose his fiancée.
He has sued his bishop for defamation, citing character assassination.
Mr Aluchio has accused his bishop of posting offensive materials that depicted him as an immoral and evil person who had been suspended from the church.
Efforts to settle the matter out of court and reconcile the two failed, and the matter will now undergo a full trial.
The Eldoret court has now ruled that the defamation case filed by Mr Aluchio against Mr Barno, who failed to turn up for mediation after several attempts by a court mediation team, will now go to full hearing.
Mr Aluchio, a bachelor, said that he was ready for mediation but is now forced to prosecute the matter through court.
The archbishop is said to have backtracked on his earlier proposal for an out-of-court settlement of the civil case without giving any reasons for his actions, shocking the mediators.
On Monday, Mr Aluchio informed the Presiding Principal Magistrate Peter Ireri that the mediation did not take place due to failure by the archbishop to show up at the agreed venue.
"I am ready to proceed with the civil case that I have filed against my archbishop to full trial since he has shown no willingness to resolve the matter out of court as he had proposed," stated Mr Aluchio.
The magistrate was concerned with the sentiments expressed by the complainant in the matter as he set the hearing of the civil case on April 3, 2025.
"Now that the defamation case against the bishop, which had been referred to mediation, has collapsed, the hearing of the matter will now be on April 3," ruled the Magistrate.
When the matter came up for mention before the presiding principal magistrate last month, the archbishop had expressed confidence that they would resolve their differences for the sake of unity and harmony.
"Your honour, I request that you give us a chance to mediate before going to a full trial in the case. I am optimistic that we shall solve the matter amicably through an out-of-court settlement," assured Mr Barno.
In the court documents, Pastor Aluchio highlights that before posting the materials on the church's WhatsApp platform, he had an interest in finding his spouse within the church and conducting a wedding.
He states that his bishop posted the offensive words on June 5, 2024, at about 11:03 pm without his consent.
He argues that the action by his bishop diminished his chances of ever getting a spouse of his choice from the church where he has been worshipping for over two decades.
He said that he was going to hold the bishop accountable for his actions through the legal process for damaging his image before the church where he also serves as a youth leader.
"The publications against me that were posted to our church WhatsApp group have damaged my good reputation within the church, and youth ministry where I serve as a leader, my profession, private and public life,” he argued.
In his defense, Mr Barno says he committed no wrong and acted within the mandate of the church when he singled out Mr Aluchio for discipline.
Mr Barno avers that the church where he heads has a code of conduct, which all members must adhere to, adding that it beats logic that Mr Aluchio who is a member would want to move away from the same and instead seek other avenues outside the church.
Through his lawyer Charles Nyamweya, the cleric advised Pastor Aluchio to submit himself to the church's disciplinary mechanism before moving to the court.
"I advise you to submit to the church's disciplinary mechanism, and having exhausted the same, then you can move to the court of law. Otherwise, the threats in your letter are just hot air, pedestrian and infantile, to say the least," emphasized Bishop Barno.
Pastor Aluchio is represented in the matter by lawyer Awuor Otieno DM and Associates Advocates, while Bishop Barno is represented by lawyer Charles Nyamweya.
