Bungoma County Police Commander, Francis Kooli, led a team of police officers on Thursday, May 11, in conducting an operation at New Life International Church branches in Western Kenya.
The Church located at Sikata on the outskirts of Bungoma town was hosting a number of faithful who were seemingly on a prayer programme.
Kooli revealed that they had launched a manhunt for the presiding pastor, who declined to surrender for questioning after being summoned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) officers.
“We have called him but he says he is not around. If he does not show up we will be forced to use other means to get him,” Kooli stated.
On Wednesday, May 10, police visited New Life International Church (Bungoma) and ordered the Presiding Pastor to report to DCI offices.
However, the County Commander noted that they were following crucial leads, which would soon flush out the preacher, serving under controversial pastor - Ezekiel Odero - from his hideout.
He stated that forensic specialists from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation were tracking him down.
Detectives questioned neighbours around New Life International Church Bungoma, who claimed the religious centre was barely two months old.
The neighbours also alleged that the Church had merely ten faithful, including the presiding pastor and his family.
Police, in line with the neighbours' responses, urged landowners in Western Kenya to exercise caution when leasing their property pastors as some churches were unregistered.
Meanwhile, Bungoma Police on Thursday, May 11, arraigned in court a self-proclaimed Messiah, Eliud Wekesa, popularly known as Yesu wa Tongaren.
Police sought a court order to hold him for days as they concluded investigations into his doctrine and activities at the Bungoma-based church.
"I honoured the summon after the OCS stated that the county commander wanted to hold more talks with me," Yesu wa Tongaren explained after appearing before the police on Thursday, May 11.
Yesu wa Tongaren surrendered himself to Bungoma Police officers on Wednesday, May 10, for questioning and was grilled for more than six hours.
