Controversial televangelist David Kariuki Ngare, popularly known as Gakuyo, has been arraigned at Milimani Law Courts.
Gakuyo is facing allegations of stealing over Ksh1 billion from members of his Ekeza Sacco.
Gakuyo however was not charged with any offences after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations(DCI) filed an application seeking to continue detaining him for four days to enable police to complete investigations into the matter.
"The court be pleased to issue an order that the respondent (Gakuyo) to continue being held at Muthaiga police station for four days to enable the DCI to conclude investigations and arraign him in court for plea taking," the investigation officer Bernard Gikandi sought.
He is alleged to have stolen over Ksh1 billion from members of Ekeza Sacco Limited, Gakuyo Real Estate, Credit Co-operative Society and Gakuyo Investment Club who fell victim to his fraudulent investment schemes.
Gikandi says that the Thika-based preacher is being investigated for several offences including conspiracy to commit a felony, obtaining money by false pretences and money laundering involving Ksh1 billion allegedly stolen by him and companies associated with him.
DCI investigations against Gakuyo
The DCI detectives say that investigations are still ongoing and cover a wide area across the country where EKeza Sacco had 42 branches in eight counties.
"The investigations are at an advanced stage and Gakuyo is likely to be charged with several cases involving over 50,000 victims spread across the republic of Kenya," officer Gikandi states in his affidavit.
The court heard that there has been a public outcry from the thousands of victims and other affected persons over the funds lost and allegedly stolen by the preacher and his firms namely, Ekeza Sacco Society Limited, Gakuyo Real Estate and Gakuyo Investors Club after the closure of the companies offices.
"I believe Gakuyo is aware of the ongoing investigations and impending arraignment in court over the said investigations since the probe into the matter started in 2019," Gikandi stated.
The officer informed the court that the Ekeza founder was arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, while in transit to Zambia and if freed on bond there is a high likelihood he will escape the country before he faces the criminal charges against him.
"Gakuyo is a flight risk and is likely to escape the jurisdiction of the court," the DCI detective says.
Gikandi adds that the televangelist is also likely to interfere with the ongoing investigations including contacting critical witnesses and concealing material and documents necessary and relevant to the probe.
His arrest comes after he lost a court case in the high court where he had sought to block the DCI and Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) from prosecuting him over the alleged fraudulent schemes for embezzlement of members' cash.
Gakuyo's woes started in 2019 when the High Court froze his multi-billion properties and bank accounts after he attempted to sell his properties claiming he wanted to pay his creditors.
In 2022, the Bishop was an ODM parliamentary aspirant for the Thika Town constituency.
He also owns the Bishop of Calvary Church Ministries and has a large following within Kiambu and Murang’a Counties.
