By Sharon Resian
A court in Bungoma freed the self-stayed ‘Jesus’ of Tongaren on Tuesday after the State failed to provide evidence in an indoctrination case.
Eliud Wekesa who considers himself ‘Jesus’ leads a sect of slightly over 200 followers who subscribe a debased version of biblical teachings.
Wekesa was accused of unlawful operation of an unregistered society, radicalization, and money laundering but the prosecution told the court Tuesday it lacked evidence.
Roots Party Leader George Wajackoyah, who contested in the 2022 presidential election, represented ‘Yesu wa Tongaren’ in court.
Clamor for Wekesa’s release
He was freed a day after a section of MPs from Bungoma county demanded the release of Bungoma-based preacher who had been in custody for a week.
Led by Tongaren MP John Chikati, the lawmakers added that the preacher’s release should include no bond terms.
“We ask that he be released without any conditions, and without bond term. He should be released on free bond,” he said.
Chikati, accompanied by Webuye East MP Martin Wanyonyi, stated that Wekesa presented no harm. He said Wekesa was a man focused on praying for people.
“He is praying for ‘Papa Wa Roma’ (Referring to Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula) to be the President of Kenya. Release him,” Chikati said.
He added that the preacher is a poor man who cannot be associated with money laundering.
Unregistered society
Wekesa was detained after several summonses for interrogation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, DCI, in Bungoma.
Elijah Macharia, the detective who handled the matters, questioned Wekesa over his New Jerusalem Church he claimed had existed for 12 years without registration.
Wekesa would be arrested on May 11, a day after his interrogation, and arraigned in court where he stood accused of unlawful operation of an unregistered society, radicalization and money laundering.
The prosecution petitioned the court to allow a mental assessment on the suspect to establish his suitability to stand for trial.
Bungoma Principal Magistrate, Tom Olando, responded to the prosecution’s application by granting them four days to complete the investigations at the suspect’s place residence and carry out a mental assessment.
“The court has agreed and granted permission to the prosecution side to detain the suspect for four more days to allow them to complete the probe and carry out the mental assessment,” Olando declared on May 12.
The prosecution had also alleged that there had been criminal activities on indoctrination at the suspect’s church that might be linked to the Paul Mackenzie-led starvation cult in Kilifi’s Shakahola.
The prosecution defended its insistence Wekesa’s continued detention arguing that he faced stoning and crucifixion danger from the public.
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