How A Rogue Pastor and A Broke Policeman Survive

One would think that working for a Christian organisation that is seemingly successful would assure you of a regular paycheck at the end of the month.


Employees of Christian Life Centre, an organisation that has two radio stations and a TV station are a most disgruntled lot. Their boss Pastor Jackson Senyonga, is one of those prosperity ministers who is forever dishing out German cars, houses and plots to his flock, but when it comes to paying his staff, he dishes out Bible verses about the wrath of God and patience.

Tithes

Top TV is one of the leading Christian TV stations in the country, and they have advertisers, which imply they are making money. The ministry itself collects tithes and offerings and Pastor Senyonga always has cash for conveniently travelling at the end of every month, when he should be paying salaries. I guess he is wise and only employs “Christians”, which means they pray unceasingly for him to pay them, instead of sabotaging his media houses. Recently, the staff stayed at work to pray and fast and viola at 5am in the morning, they were asked to come collect their salaries, in cash no less. Those who did not sleep at work “waiting upon the Lord” did not get anything.

Padlock

The pastor should take a leaf from the police force who recently decided to distribute posho (maize flour) and beans to the force, when the salaries were delayed. The police are waiting to get their June salaries and I doubt most can even afford the fuel to cook food. Considering they live in barracks and some have large families, equitable distribution of food should have been done. This would have been achieved by, for instance, providing a canteen where staff and families can go to eat three square meals every day, until salaries are paid into the accounts.

Police are always asking for “fuel” when you report a break-in. Or “pesa ya photocopy” when you need a police abstract to report a crime; very soon I foresee them ask for “pesa ya rent”. Recently, residents in Nansana were surprised to wake up in the morning only to find a huge padlock on the police station door. And you thought its only Kenyan cops who need reforms, hehe! Here is the joke, Justina Teberamusa the owner of the building that houses the station amongst other shops says that for the last five years, she has only gotten stories and false promises instead of the Sh160,000 annual rent. She wants them to pay up or move out.

Next time you get behind the wheel after irrigating your liver, spare some kitu kidogo for the police you find on the way home (seemingly ever swelling potbellies notwithstanding — they are hungry), do not even wait to be stopped. I would also like to implore President Museveni to spare some of the cash in sacks and envelopes he has been dishing out and give our law enforcers a sack or two, as well.

Activists and other law-breakers, who are considering engaging police in the coming weeks, are sure to be teargased and clobbered to the full extent of the law, as they vent their frustrations on wananchi. Nothing personal, they are tired of yawning.