Self-proclaimed preacher Eliud Wekesa Simiyu, popularly known as Yesu wa Tongaren, is a free man after the prosecution failed to charge him regarding allegations of running a religious cult in Western Kenya.
The leader of New Jerusalem Church in Bungoma County, who purports to be Jesus Christ, the son of God, was presented at the Bungoma Law Courts on Tuesday, May 16 after spending five days in police custody.
However, the prosecution told the court that they had no evidence against the 42-year-old cleric.
Lawyer-cum politician George Wajackoyah was the lead counsel in the defence team.
The court had on Friday allowed police to detain Simiyu for four more days pending the conclusion of investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The police had requested for seven days to comb through Simiyu’s home which the court heard is believed to be a crime scene, his church and also have the preacher mentally assessed.
The preacher was facing allegations of teaching radical ideologies to his followers as well as practising and promoting money laundering.
More to follow…
