Police in Homa Bay have arrested a clergyman who wanted to meet President William Ruto within 21 days ostensibly to share a prophesy with him about Kenya's future.
Joseph Chenge of Jerusalem Mowar Church was arrested on Wednesday evening alongside 11 accomplices at their house of worship in Ruri village, Suba North constituency.
They included six pastors and five people who were staying in the church for worship. The suspects are being detained at Mbita Police Station.
Homa Bay Directorate of Criminal Investigations Officer Abed Kavoo said they are holding Chenge for promoting religious teachings with questionable practices.
Kavoo said their preliminary investigations revealed that the cleric was detaining sick people ‘to pray for them’ instead of allowing them to seek medication in hospitals.
"Sick people with different diseases are detained at his church in disguise of praying for them. Some have been at the church for more than three months,” Kavoo said.
Last Saturday, a video clip linked to Chenge went viral on social media where he asked President Ruto to meet him within 21 days for prophesy.
He argued that God had foretold him something about Kenya which he needed to meet the president and tell him.
The preacher warned that something unfortunate may happen if they fail to meet within the stipulated time.
“Get time we sit together so I explain for you prophesy by God. We’ll pray together thereafter so as to get intervention,” Chenge said.
Many of his followers trust that Chenge has prayer powers which can enable sick people to get healed from various diseases.
Kavoo said some patients were detained in the church without considering their condition.
"Some were found in a deplorable state. We suspect they were being offered prayers which changed their normal thinking," he added.
According to Kavoo, Chenge contravened the law by operating a church without a registration license.
He also lacked a medical practitioner’s license which allows him to heal patients.
"The church is not registered. He also detains patients for healing purposes yet he is not a medic, something which predisposes their lives to risks,” Kavoo said.
Chenge and his accomplices will be interrogated to establish the truth of what takes place in his church.
"We couldn’t hesitate to arrest him because we don’t know what the actions may result. We became proactive and arrested them to avoid any regrets in future,” Kavoo said.
