A church minister wants police to protect him after he was threatened with death for leading his followers in cutting down and burning a sacred tree.

The Rev Dominic Kiloku of the Assemblies of God Church in Laikipia District yesterday said elders in Mukogodo division had threatened to kill him after he declined to atone for his alleged desecration of a sacred tree traditionally used by the residents for spiritual rites.

The destroyed tree was located at Kantana village in Makurian location.

A meeting convened by Makurian location chief, Mr Elen ole Legei, resolved to have the preacher atone for his alleged offence by offering the elders a goat and local brew before they could cleanse him.

But in his defence, the preacher reached for his Bible, opened it and started reading it.

He was shouted down as elders protested that he was making fun of a serious issue, with some of them walking out of the meeting. The priest was later condemned and cursed through traditional chants.

The defiant preacher later told journalists that he would neither apologise for his actions nor offer any appeasement.

"It is my God-given duty to stop my people from worshipping objects.

They have been slaughtering and praying under the tree for rain and other things which is contrary to Christian teachings. They had to be stopped," he said.