Desperate to escape a mountain of debt and revive his dwindling congregation, a Nairobi pastor turned to two self-styled spiritual consultants—only to be conned out of more than Sh1.4 million.

Pastor Mark Ndinyo Khamala, founder of Grace Community Bible Church in Roasters along the Thika Superhighway, claims Anastaciah Wanjiru Chege and Tanzanian national Benjamin Jumainne Mageche promised to cleanse him of financial misfortune and help his church flourish—only to vanish with his money after bizarre rituals allegedly performed in Mombasa.

Although Khamala vehemently denies participating in occult practices, a Nairobi court on July 28, 2025, heard that he underwent a strange coastal ceremony.

The court heard he travelled all the way to the coastal city of Mombasa, where “occultic rituals” were performed.

While along the Indian Ocean, the pastor was instructed to carry a clay pot on his head during the night ritual after being convinced the bizarre undertaking in the hands of Wanjiru and Jumainne would end his struggles.

The courtroom fell into an uneasy silence at the revelations, which Khamala denied as he tried to disassociate himself from witchcraft. 

The court heard that Wanjiru and Jumainne had introduced themselves as “spiritual consultants” with powers to cure Khamala’s financial and church problems.

Testifying before Magistrate Paul Mutai, the Nairobi-based pastor described himself not as a man pursuing mystical shortcuts, but rather as a vulnerable spiritual leader defrauded during a time of financial collapse and emotional desperation.

“I am a man of faith. I never travelled to Mombasa to perform any spiritual rituals. That accusation is false and deeply offensive,” Khamala declared under oath while responding to questions from defense counsel Enock Ongiti, who pressed him on claims that he sought help from witch doctors at the coast.

Khamala’s denial came during a fraud trial in which he has accused Wanjiru and Jumainne of conspiring to con him over Sh1.4 million by promising to “spiritually” fix his financial problems and grow his church’s influence. 

Spiritual collapse

Khamala, a father of three and respected theologian with a Master’s degree in Divinity and Theological Studies from the United States, told the court that financial woes began shortly after he returned to Kenya during the Covid-19 pandemic with dreams of establishing a thriving gospel ministry. 

“I came back home with a vision to serve and grow a church. But I was financially strained and desperate to expand the ministry,” he informed the court.

According to his testimony, the cleric launched his church with only 40 members and, in an effort to secure land for a permanent worship space, took loans totaling Sh3 million from a lending institution. 

He narrated that a group claiming to represent a company called Delerue promised to help him purchase land for the church.

“I was convinced to take loans totaling Sh3 million from a money-lending institution to secure the land. But the deal collapsed, and I was left with a heavy debt burden, teetering on the edge of personal and spiritual ruin,” said Khamala. 

He said that it was during this low point that the two accused persons, Wanjiru and Jumainne, approached him, presenting themselves as spiritual consultants and traditional practitioners, offering what they claimed were spiritual powers to break his financial curse and boost his ministry. 

“They told me they had the powers to clear my debts and make me influential in ministry. From history, these two accused persons caught me at a moment when I was desperate and vulnerable,” Khamala testified.

“They never told me exactly how they would help me. They just said they had powers. And I clung to what seemed like hope,” he added.

The pastor told court that he paid the duo Sh700,000 partly in cash and the rest via M-Pesa, with most transactions directed to a phone number registered under Wanjiru’s name. 

“After the payments, nothing changed. My debt only grew,” the pastor told the magistrate, claiming that when he confronted Wanjiru and Jumainne about the failed promises, they turned hostile.  

“They threatened me and warned me not to tell anyone. That’s when I realised I had been conned,” Khamala told the court. 

He later reported the matter at Gigiri Police Station. The pastor also tendered in court detailed M-Pesa transaction statements showing that over Sh1 million had been sent to the two accused persons.

Led in his evidence by state prosecutor, the pastor told the court that all payments from him went directly to the accused persons.

“What method did you use to send the money?” the prosecutor asked.

“I sent the money through M-Pesa, and sometimes I gave cash,” responded Khamala

Pressed further by the prosecutor to clarify who received the money, Khamala asserted that both Wanjiru and Jumainne had received thousands of shillings from him.

“Can you confirm that the two individuals seated here today were the recipients?” posed the prosecutor. 

Khamala responded: “Exactly, the two seated here are the ones who conned me.”

As the prosecution built its case around fraud, the defense sought to flip the narrative, suggesting that Pastor Khamala had willingly participated in occult rituals, including one reportedly performed in the Indian Ocean during a trip to Mombasa.

While being cross-examined by defense lawyer Enock Ongiti, Pastor Khamala denied ever seeking the services of a witch doctor or performing any ritual in Mombasa to boost his following.

“Pastor, did you travel to Mombasa to perform a ritual with the accused?” defense lawyer Ongiti asked.

“I am a man of faith. I have been to Mombasa many times and in various hotels,” the pastor replied cautiously, without directly confirming or denying any specific meeting with the accused there.

Pressed further on whether he was instructed to carry a clay pot on his head during a nighttime ceremony at a hidden coastal location, Khamala flatly denied ever participating in any such act.

Firm denial

“Those claims are completely false. I am a Christian minister. I would never do such things,” he stated, appearing uncomfortable and hesitated several times when asked about his coastal visits and his interactions with Jumainne.

When asked in what capacity the accused were supposed to resolve his debts, the pastor did not offer a clear explanation, but maintained that he was in a vulnerable position. 

“I was emotionally and financially broken. I clung to what seemed like hope at the time,” he stressed.

According to the statement recorded at Gigiri Police Station, the accused had allegedly promised to use supernatural influence to help the pastor gain more followers and financial stability. 

In the case, Jumainne and Wanjiru are charged with two counts of conspiracy to defraud and obtaining money by false pretenses. 

The prosecution alleges that Jumainne defrauded Pastor Khamala of Sh649,918 between July 2023 and September 2024, pretending to be a witch doctor capable of eliminating the pastor’s debts through supernatural intervention.

“On the diverse dates between July 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024, within Nairobi County, jointly with others not before court, you conspired to defraud and obtained from Mark Ndinyo Khamala Sh649,918 in the pretense that you (Jumainne) were a witch doctor and had powers to enable him to sort out his debt, a fact you knew to be false,” states in part the charge sheet filed by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. 

Wanjiru is separately charged with defrauding the pastor of Sh756,977 between September 23, 2023, and January 22, 2024, using similar methods.

The two have denied the charges and are out on a cash bail of Sh100,000. The hearing continues on September 1, 2025.