Bishop and church elder held for eloping with pupils

KIRINYAGA COUNTY: A bishop and a church elder in Kirinyaga County have been arrested for allegedly eloping with two school girls.

The girls, aged 16 and 17 years, are Class Eight pupils at a school in Trans Nzoia County.

The 60-year-old bishop and his church elder were arrested in their respective homes in Mushagala village where they have been living with the under-age girls as their wives since March this year.

Kariru locational Chief Isaac Kabengi who arrested them said he was tipped off by worshipers from End Time Message Ministries.

Kabengi said he swung into action and arrested the two after some worshippers complained about the teachings of their church which advocates marriage of under-age girls.

“The church faithful told me they were concerned about the conduct of their bishop and his elder who have been living with the minors since March this year and I had no option but to arrest them,” Kabengi said.

He said the two met the girls while on a preaching mission in Trans Nzoia and allegedly convinced them to drop out of school after misleading them that education was meaningless.

TRACE PARENTS

Kirinyaga County Police Commander Christine Mutua said her officers were trying to trace the parents of the minors before any action is taken.

“We want to verify if the parents might have married off the girls and if so why they did it since these children are supposed to be in school. I hope my Trans Nzoia counterpart will be able to help in tracing the parents,” she said.

The girls and their ‘’husbands” were being held at Kianyaga Police Station until investigations are completed.

Interestingly, wives of the suspects were seen taking food to their husbands and their “co-wives” at the police station.

The wife of the church elder was seen carrying their three-month old baby on her back as she walked into the police station on Monday evening and at mid-day Tuesday.