A public fallout within Jesus Compassionate Ministries (JCM) has escalated after Bishop Benson Kamau Gathungu, popularly known as Kiengei, shared screenshots of what he claimed were WhatsApp conversations involving Evangelist Bernard Gathuthu’s wife, prompting the evangelist to issue a lengthy response.
Kiengei, the founder and overseer of JCM, posted the screenshots on his social media pages alongside allegations that Gathuthu had failed to uphold the standards expected of a minister and should return church money.
In his post, the bishop claimed the screenshots explained the concerns he had previously raised about the evangelist. He further alleged that Gathuthu had been earning KSh40,000 per month from the church, in addition to other benefits whenever the bishop travelled outside Nairobi for ministry.
The screenshots appear to show messages from a woman identified as Jackie Gatuthu, who expressed concern over her husband’s alleged behaviour, claiming he had been spending nights away from home, returning home intoxicated on one occasion, and neglecting church duties. She appealed to Kiengei to intervene before taking disciplinary action.
In the alleged reply captured in the screenshots, Kiengei stated that he had repeatedly summoned the evangelist but claimed he had become rebellious and no longer attended church services or ministry functions consistently.
Gathuthu Responds
Hours after Kiengei’s post, Evangelist Bernard Gathuthu broke his silence through a statement on his social media pages.
In the post, Gathuthu thanked Kiengei for sharing what he described as his wife’s messages, saying the truth would ultimately prevail and that God would judge every matter.
He maintained that he remains a servant of God and insisted he would continue serving faithfully despite the controversy surrounding him.
The evangelist also denied allegations that he had defrauded members of the church, urging anyone claiming to have lost money through him to contact him directly using the phone number he publicly shared in the post.
Gathuthu further appealed to members of the public not to insult or attack his wife over the ongoing dispute, saying she was innocent and should not be dragged into the conflict.
He concluded by expressing confidence that the truth would eventually come to light and asked supporters to keep praying for him and his family.
Neither Kiengei nor Gathuthu has indicated whether the dispute will be resolved internally or through legal channels.
The authenticity of the alleged WhatsApp messages has not been independently verified, and the claims made by both parties remain unproven. The public exchange has nevertheless sparked widespread debate among followers of Jesus Compassionate Ministries and on social media.