Bungoma Principal Magistrate Tom Olando, on Tuesday, May 16, ordered self-proclaimed Messiah, Yesu wa Tongaren to be released from police custody.
This was after the prosecution stated that findings by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) did not offer any grounds to implicate the self-proclaimed messiah, whose real name is Eliud Wekesa.
The prosecution, therefore, asked Principal Magistrate Tom Olando to release him and close the case.
The New Jerusalem Church leader appeared before the Bungoma Law Courts, where 2022 presidential candidate, Prof. George Wajackoyah, represented him.
In the hearing, an Office of Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) officer informed the Court that the State had decided to close Yesu wa Tongaren's file.
Yesu wa Tongaren briefly expressed his dissatisfaction with the arrest and arraignment, noting that he fully complied with the investigators.
He further revealed that he accompanied DCI officers to his home, where they investigated his religious doctrines.
"Tulienda na maafisa wa polisi kwa boma wafanye uchunguzi, na bahati nzuri ilikuwa siku ya Jumamosi ambaye huwa ni siku ya Sabato. Polisi walihesabu sadaka wakapata ni shillingi 225 na nyanya kidogo na vitunguu," Yesu wa Tongaren stated.
His sentiments can be loosely translated as, "I accompanied the police to my home to aid them in the investigations. Fortunately, it was a Saturday - the Sabbath. They counted Ksh225 offering, cherry tomatoes and onions."
On Friday, May 12, the prosecution, while appearing before Bungoma Principal Magistrate, stated that Yesu wa Tongaren was being investigated for suspected cultic activities.
The controversial preacher was also facing investigations into possible activities relating to radicalisation, money laundering, and acquiring proceeds of crime.
Investigators also explored possible links to teaching radical ideologies to his followers, some of whom were minors.
Yesu wa Tongaren was first arrested on May 10, 2023, and he had been in police custody since then.
