Arunga, Hellon arrested in church

By Cyrus Ombati

Police raided the home of former TV anchor Esther Arunga and Jazz maestro Joseph Hellon and arrested them in fresh probe into the activities of the Finger of God church.

Also arrested were eight other members of the church found in the house in Runda.

CID officers conducted the raid at 2am.

The group was first locked up in police cells before they were picked up by detectives from the Serious Crime Unit at CID headquarters and taken in for questioning.

Former KTN news anchor Esther Arunga (right) and a member of the Finger of God Ministries at Muthaiga Police Station in Nairobi, after they were arrested Sunday. [PHOTO: COLLINS KWEYU/STANDARD]

Their lawyer Harun Ndubi said police were investigating them for being members of an illegal group despite the fact that the church was legally registered.

"We do not know if and when they will be taken to court but according to the OB, they were arrested for being members of an illegal group," said Mr Ndubi.

Different stations

Ms Arunga and two other women were locked up at the Muthaiga Police Station while Mr Hellon, Mr Timberlake Quincy and other members of the church were locked up at the Gigiri Police Station.

The detectives picked up Arunga and took her to the CID headquarters for interrogation. She smiled and waved at journalists as she sat in the back seat of the police Landover.

Earlier on, Arunga’s parents arrived at the station where they tried to see her in vain.

Police informed them they were yet to get permission from her to allow them see her.

Detectives handling the case said they had received various complaints about the church and that is why they wanted to grill the members and leaders to know more before taking further action.

Other sources said they want to know the source of the funds of the church and clarify some of the statements that Arunga and Hellon have made regarding their activities.