Mwingi Central MP Joe Mutambu detained and beat me up, says Helicopter Church Bishop Thomas Wahome

NAIROBI: Bishop Thomas Wahome of Helicopter Church has accused an MP of assaulting him in his office on Monday.

Wahome claims Mwingi Central MP Joe Mutambu assaulted him in his office along Ngong Road where he had gone to reclaim a lorry he alleges he had hired out to the legislator last month.

The preacher, who declares on his church's website that he "sets the captives free", claims the legislator locked him up in his office for more than seven hours after threatening him with a gun, before beating him up.

"When I arrived there, he even claimed he does not know me. I went and picked police to help me get the lorry after I learnt he was repainting it without my authority. He became unruly and later hit me," said Wahome.

Wahome, whose followers call him "prophet" and "annointed man of God", has since recorded a statement at the Kilimani Police Station and was yesterday issued with a P3 form.

Kilimani OCPD Peter Katam said they are investigating the matter. The medical examination report indicates Wahome suffered injuries in the neck.

A medical report indicates Wahome was treated for severe headache, nose bleeding, swollen upper eye lid, bruises in the neck and chest pain on September 21.

Wahome claims he hired out the vehicle to Mutambu to ferry several bags of cement from Donholm to a construction site in Karen, Nairobi.

"He promised to return the lorry a day later but he has refused to do so. Instead, I learnt he was repainting it. I reported the matter to police," he said.

Wahome sought the help of police who went to Mutambu's office where the MP allegedly said he did not know the pastor. But the pastor produced text messages showing the communication between them. The pastor claims Mutambu changed the story, saying he (Wahome) owed him Sh200,000, a claim the pastor denied.

MUTAMBU'S VERSION

When police arrived there, Mutambu allegedly told them to leave because he knows their boss, the acting Deputy Inspector General of Police Joel Kitili.

"He even started to make a call saying he was talking to the DIG and he wanted to report the officers for alleged harassment. The officers stood firm and told him they were doing their legally mandated job," said Wahome. Police ordered him to report to the DCIO Kilimani to record a statement.

Mutambu has denied harming the pastor and he, too, has his own version of events. Mutambu says Wahome had agreed to sell the lorry to him at Sh350,000. He explained he sent Wahome Sh50,000 through M-Pesa and even produced the message to justify that.

"What he is telling you is not true. Let him tell you the truth. He wanted to sell the lorry to me," said Mutambu.

He showed us text messages reportedly from Wahome informing him that he had found another buyer who was willing to pay the Sh350,000. "As for you, you have made a deposit of 150K, balance 200K. Please I need that amount to transact some other business. Please let me know if I should come for them (sic) tomorrow or give me a cheque," read one SMS.

Mutambu admitted police were in his office on Monday and also confirmed he knows Wahome.