Anglican church to pay gay priests Ksh.6 million

The Anglican Church of Kenya has been ordered to compensate three priests it accused of being gay Sh6.8 million by a Nyeri court.

Pastors Paul Warui, John Gachau and James Maigua were awarded Sh6.8 million for defamation and ordered to be reinstated to their pastoral duties following suspension by the church over homosexuality allegations.

The three clergy that they suffered humorous loss of reputation and integrity eroding their dignity among the congregants and public.

Labour court Justice Byram Ongaya also dismissed an application by the church to have the judgment, that was delivered on September 9, 2016, reviewed saying it would be an abuse of court process since the church has already moved to the Court of Appeal to challenge it.

Justice Ongaya further declined to have the Mt. Kenya West Diocese Bishop, Rev. Joseph Kagunda, and the Church Commissioners for Kenya (CCK) enjoined in the suit as respondents.

Through lawyer Wachira Nderitu, the church had argued that the bishop was denied a right of reply before the decree of awarding the damages was pronounced in respect to the three clergymen.

The court said that Bishop Kagunda was aware of the proceedings in the main suit and the case was concluded without seeking to be enjoined until long later after the judgement was entered in favour of the priests.

Nderitu also told the court that if any claim was to be executed and complied with, then it could only be by the sitting diocese bishop and the CCK and not the registered trustees of the ACK, as indicated by the priests.

In response, the court allowed amendments to the suit to read the judgment against CCK, saying the orders to reinstate and compensate the priests were not directed to Bishop Kagunda at his individual capacity since he was not the employer of the priests.