A Sabbath service at the California Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church in Nakuru West turned chaotic on Saturday. There were already growing tensions about money management and accusations against the church’s pastor, which led to a physical fight among church members.
The church, usually a calm place for worship, became a scene of fighting as congregants, including church leaders and regular members, started hitting each other. The service was abruptly stopped, and several people were hurt.
Witnesses said that the conflict began right after the sermon when a group from the congregation confronted the church leaders, demanding to know how the church money was being used. The situation got worse when there were claims that the pastor had sent inappropriate messages and photos to some female members.
“It started with an argument, then someone threw a punch, and suddenly everyone was fighting,” said one witness, who asked to remain anonymous.
Local police were called to calm the situation, as the fighting members showed no signs of stopping. The police restored order after a tense standoff, but there were minor injuries reported.
“We are looking into what happened during this unfortunate event,” a police representative said, adding that they are gathering statements from witnesses to see if anyone should be charged.
This incident in Nakuru is part of a series of problems facing the SDA Church in Kenya, a group that has been respected for its good leadership and morals.
Tensions at the California SDA Church had been rising for weeks, with some members accusing the leaders of mishandling donations. The pastor’s alleged inappropriate behavior—claims about sending improper messages—was the last straw, leading to the fight that shocked many in the community and gained attention on social media.
Search interest in “SDA Church scandal” and “Nakuru pastor allegations” grew significantly shortly after the fight.
This violence follows another serious incident in Homa Bay County. In February, an elder at Ebenezer SDA Church in Suba South was killed, linked to a suspected love triangle with another elder’s wife.
A church service at California Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church in Nakuru West descended into chaos on Saturday, as a dispute over financial accountability and allegations of misconduct against the pastor escalated into a violent altercation.
— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) March 2, 2025
Congregants, including church… pic.twitter.com/b0SUsGTFXW
This incident raised worries about moral issues and leadership problems in the church. With Nakuru West now added to the list, experts say the SDA Church’s reputation is suffering.
Church members and observers are highlighting a larger crisis within the SDA Church. “Leadership problems, money mismanagement, and accusations of misconduct are damaging what was once a respected church,” said religious commentator Jane Mwangi in a popular post online.
The situation at California SDA has led to calls for help from the SDA East-Central Africa Division based in Nairobi, but no official response has been made as of Sunday morning.
For now, the Nakuru West congregation is divided, with some people supporting the pastor and others wanting him to be removed. The police investigation is expected to provide more details about the fight, but fixing the church’s image may be more difficult.
As reactions continue to pour in on social media, the SDA Church is at a critical point, facing internal problems that threaten its spiritual mission.
