Police in Homa Bay County are holding in custody an alleged ‘prophet’ who claimed God had instructed him to meet President William Ruto within 21 days.
The preacher, Joseph Otieno Chenge of Jerusalem Mowar Church, was nabbed alongside his 11 followers at his church in Ruri East Sub-location, Lambwe in Mbita Sub-county.
The 12 suspects, who are currently held at Mbita Police Station, include six pastors of his church and five patients who had allegedly been detained at the clergyman’s church for a period ranging from two weeks to four months.
According to Homa Bay Directorate of Criminal Investigations Officer Abed Kavoo the preacher was arrested for allegedly practising what they term questionable religious practices.
Preacher accused of detaining patients
He said, their preliminary investigations revealed that Chenge has been detaining patients with different diseases at his home for healing prayers.
“The patients have been detained in his church but some of them are in very a deplorable state. We suspect they were being offered prayers which changed their normal thinking,” Kavoo said.
At the same time, Chenge is accused of operating a church without a registration license.
“He operates a church that is not registered. He also detains patients in his church for healing purposes yet he is not a medic. This predisposes the lives of patients risks,” Kavoo added.
The matter is under investigation.
