Catholic faithful in Kisumu have called on Pope Francis to intervene in a case where they allege Arch Bishop Zacchaeus Okoth mismanages church funds.
Our Lady of Assumption Barkorwa Parish members who took to the streets to demonstrate on Monday accused the cleric of withdrawing Sh1.8 million from church account without involving the parish leaders.
The parish leaders have suspended all church services until Cardinal John Njue and the Pontiff intervene on the matter.
“We will not allow any mass service to be conducted until the Pope intervenes on a matter where the church lost Sh1.8 million,” the Parish chairman Alex Ogolla said.
He said the fund was raised by members to a buy a car for the parish priest who uses a motorbike to undertake church duties.
Mr Ogolla accused Bishop Okoth of intimidation alleging that he harasses priests who are not friendly to him.
He cited an incident where a priest was demoted and transferred to Murang’a for his strong stand against corruption.
Kennedy Odinga, the parish Secretary said sustainability funds for the parish and priests had been mismanaged.
He said the funds were contributed by church members to a tune of Sh680,000 per parish yearly yet there is no clear explanation on how the money had been spent since 2009.
“We want Pope Francis to deal with the cartel around to help restore faith and sanity in the church,” Odinga said.
"The money should cover for medical insurance, pension scheme and allowances of the priests. It recently took intervention of well wishers to cater for the bill of a sick priest in a hospital,” he added.
The Arch Diocese of Kisumu has 12 parishes and has contributed Sh14.5 million.
Odinga said members were losing faith in the church with the situation likely to worsen unless Pope Francis who stand firm against corruption practices intervene.
Bishop Okoth did not respond to phone calls made to him. He also did not reply text messages sent to him.
Last year when Pope Francis visited Kenya, he talked tough on ‘sweet like sugar’ corruption at Kasarani stadium.
Corruption is a way of death and not life, Pope Francis said, adding that Kenya and its people are destroyed whenever bribes are accepted.
The Pontiff said the hearts of many men and women are left wounded by corruption noting that corrupt people do not live in peace.