Tensions in the Maxwell Seventh Adventist Church worsened on Wednesday as a faction of the church members decried corruption and manipulation of elections.
Speaking to members of the press, officials of the controversial Nairobi Cosmopolitan Conference (NCC) said they would not back down from ridding the church of corrupt practices.
"We are dealing with an entrenched web of high-level corruption, manipulation of church elections at all levels; at the conference level, union, division and even global level. Members have witnessed impunity, coupled by the sheer incompetence of church leadership, " NCC leader, Samuel Masara said. (1:02-1:25)
Kenyans have been treated to physical fights between members of the church pledging their loyalty to the warring factions.
NCC leadership claims that the representation of the church at the top levels does not reflect the composition of the church.
They contend that Nyanza, from which the church draws the bulk of its membership, has not been given a fair representation in the plum leadership positions.
The Maxwell SDA church, which is located in the country's capital Nairobi, was declared out of bounds for worshipers by law enforcement.
Nairobi County Commissioner Flora Mworoa said that the church would only reopen after the warring factions reach a compromise solution.