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Bishop Ben Kiengei speaks out after death of AIC pastor, warns of pressure in ministry
24th May, 2026 12:20 AM
Jesus Compassion Ministry founder Bishop Ben Kiengei has spoken out following the death of an AIC pastor, raising concern over what he described as growing mental and emotional pressure affecting men of God.
In a Facebook message on Saturday, May 23, 2026, Kiengei expressed alarm at what he termed a rising trend of mental health struggles among clergy, saying several cases have recently emerged within church circles, including the loss of ministers from different denominations.
He specifically referenced the death of a pastor from the African Inland Church (AIC), coming shortly after the passing of another cleric from the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA), saying the pattern highlights the heavy burden faced by church leaders in modern ministry.
“It’s alarming at the level that we are losing Men of God due to Mental illness, in a span of a few months, and now another one from the A.I.C church has gone down after a few days of resting Rev Nderitu from the P.C.E.A church,” he wrote.
Kiengei noted that many men of God are silently battling pressure from multiple fronts, including ministry demands, family responsibilities, marriage challenges, and public scrutiny, especially in the digital age where pastors are constantly exposed to online criticism.
He revealed that a fellow bishop had recently asked him how he manages the pressure that comes with ministry and social media attention. In his response, Kiengei said he has learned to develop emotional strength and resilience to cope with the demands of his calling.
“My fellow men of God, it’s high time you brace yourself up and become courageous enough to face the rough world, one of a friend Bishop asked me, ‘Bishop Ben, how do you manage all the pressure, from the online to whatever that we see?’ and I answered him “, Njikaraga ta muguruki na niguo thì ino ìrenda,” the preacher wrote.
The cleric emphasised that being a man of God does not remove one’s humanity, urging fellow ministers to acknowledge their struggles and seek help instead of suffering in silence. He encouraged them to create safe spaces where they can openly express their frustrations without fear of judgement.
“If today a lot of my friends could have been my fellow men of cloth, I might have given up, why?? “Because we became so heavily pressed, we were unable to handle the world pressure from marriages, ministry and normal life,” he added.
Kiengei further advised clergy members to speak out and connect with trusted individuals who can support them emotionally, warning that silence and isolation could lead to devastating outcomes, including mental breakdowns.
He also cautioned against suicidal thoughts, stressing that death is not a solution to life’s pressures and urging those struggling to seek comfort in faith, prayer, and supportive communities.
“You being a man of God have not exempted you from being a human being. Speak out, create a place and an avenue where you can be happy and also an avenue where you can handle your frustrations without harming yourself, get people who can’t judge you; speak it out to them. Suicide is not the solution, and maybe the people who are pressuring your life won’t be sad after your demise; your death might be their goal,” he added.
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Steve Ireri
Steve is a senior writer with over four years of experience in digital journalism. His focus is on the showbiz and human interest stories. Emails: [email protected] , [email protected]
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