PREMIUM Court twist in SDA Church row with senior leaders Judge reckons church dispute shouldn't have been heard by lower court. News 31 min ago

The decision clears Mr Makori and the church leadership of the contempt findings and effectively ends the proceedings before the magistrate's court, although the dispute over his retirement can still be pursued before the Employment and Labour Relations Court if the complainants choose to file the matter in the appropriate forum.

The judge allowed an appeal filed by the Executive Committee of the SDA Church Central Rift Valley Conference, the Executive Committee of the East Kenya Union Conference, and the East Kenya Union Conference's Executive President Samwel Makori.

In ruling delivered on July 16 2026, Justice Murunga agreed with the church officials, holding that the central issue in the dispute was whether Mr Makori had reached retirement age and was lawfully earning a salary.