Pastor Benard Gatuthu has brought his chapter at Jesus Christ Compassion (JCM) Church to an end, walking away from the ministry following weeks of intense public scrutiny surrounding his relationship with the church's leadership.
His exit follows the circulation of private WhatsApp messages allegedly sent by his wife to JCM founder Ben Kiengei. In the messages, she reportedly asked the bishop to intervene, saying she was concerned about her husband's conduct and did not know how to approach him directly.
According to the messages, Gatuthu allegedly left home one afternoon and failed to return by the following morning. While he reportedly told his wife he was attending church activities in Githurai, she expressed doubts about the explanation and sought help from the bishop.
The leaked messages quickly spread across social media, sparking widespread debate. Some Kenyans faulted Gatuthu for making private family matters public, while others argued the issue should have been resolved internally.
In a statement, Gatuthu said leaving JCM was not an easy decision after spending years serving in the ministry. He noted that his journey had come with many challenges but felt the time had come to move on.
He thanked God for the opportunity to serve at JCM and expressed gratitude for the people he ministered to during his time at the church.
Gatuthu added that he would reveal his next step in ministry at a later date, describing the move as necessary for his future.
The controversy also drew a response from Bishop Ben Kiengei, who later addressed the public following days of speculation over the alleged fallout with his former mentee.
