Timberlake held in probe into his nationality

By Cyrus Ombati

Controversial member of the Finger of God Church Quincy Zuma Timberlake was on Thursday arrested by the Immigration officials in fresh investigation into his nationality.

Timberlake was picked up from their Runda home and driven to Nyayo House, the Immigration Department headquarters, for questioning.

Members of the church who followed him there said the officials later drove out of Nyayo House with Timberlake to an unconfirmed destination.

The arrest came two days after he was released from remand on Tuesday following a successful bail application.

Based on the terms which former TV anchor Esther Arunga, Jazz maestro Nimrod Hellon Onyango and others were released, Chief Magistrate Gilbert Mutembei ordered him to pay a cash bail of Sh20, 000.

Timberlake had been charged that on February 20 at Runda Estate in Nairobi, with others not before the court, was found to be a member of an unlawful society known as Finger of God Church.

On Tuesday, his lawyer Edward Oonge told court the case, which was a hindrance to his client being admitted to bail, had been settled. The prosecution had asked the court not to release him on cash bail immediately, since he is allegedly a foreigner.

In an affidavit filed by the investigating officer Alphonce Lumosi, Timberlake is suspected to be a foreigner holding a Kenyan identity illegally.

Mr Lumosi also stated that Timberlake was charged before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Makadara, Nairobi, with obtaining money by false pretences and absconded until he was arrested on February 21.

Others charged with the same offence are Samwel Nahashon, Fredrick Onyango, Vincent Onyango, Grace Njiriri and Veronica Agape Koten’go.