Joseph Otieno Chenge, of Jerusalem Mowar Church, on Wednesday, May 17, found himself on the wrong side of the law when officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) picked him up from his humble abode.
It all began with a simple press conference which Chenge had called to address the nation over an impending danger, and he extended his theatrical speech to issue President William Ruto a 21-day ultimatum.
Chenge demanded to meet the Head of State within three weeks, during which he would have explained the alleged impending catastrophe for Ruto to act.
DCI officers from Homa Bay County apprehended him at his home in Ruri East Sub-location, Lambwe Central Location. Homa Bay Directorate of Criminal Investigations Officer Abed Kavoo stated that according to preliminary investigations, Chenge's doctrine comprised unorthodox teachings.
“The patients have been detained in his church, but some of them are in a deplorable state. We suspect they were being offered prayers which changed their normal thinking,” Kavoo stated, adding that the police rescued several victims from his church.
Eleven other accomplices with whom he addressed the Head of State in the press conference were also apprehended.
Among those arrested were six Pastors of Jerusalem Mowar Church and patients accommodated at the Church for spiritual healing.
The suspects were detained at Mbita Divisional Headquarters, where they were processed as investigations continued, with detectives seeking to unravel what they claimed were cultic activities.
DCIO Kavoo claimed that Chenge detained patients at his home under the pretext of having the ability to pray and heal them.
The man of the cloth was also accused of receiving monetary gains from his prayer sessions, which would sometimes extend for months.
“We cannot wait for repercussions of the clergyman’s actions in the church. That is why we have become proactive by apprehending them to enable us to know exactly what happens in his church to avoid any regrets in the future,” Kavoo told the media.
DCI officers further established that the Jerusalem Mowar Church had not complied with the Constitution and legal requirements for places of worship.
“He operates a church that is not registered and detains patients in his church for healing purposes, yet he is not a medic. This predisposes the lives of patients to risks,” Kavoo revealed.
The prosecution sought an order at Rusinga Island Law Courts to detain the twelve longer, pending the conclusion of ongoing investigations.
