Preacher who claimed God had instructed him to meet Ruto arrested

A "prophet" in Homa Bay who claimed God had instructed him to inform President William Ruto to meet him within 21 days has been arrested by police officers.

The clergyman identified as Joseph Otieno Chenge of Jerusalem Mowar Church was arrested alongside his eleven accomplices at his church located at Ruri East Sub-location, Lambwe Central Location in Mbita Sub-county.

Those who were arrested alongside him are six pastors of his church. Five patients found at his church have also been taken into police custody.

The 12 suspects have been detained at Mbita Police Station.

Homa Bay Directorate of Criminal Investigations Officer Abed Kavoo told The Standard that Chenge was arrested for practising questionable religious practices.

Kavoo said their preliminary investigations revealed that the man of God has been detaining patients with different diseases at his home in guise of praying for them.

The five patients had allegedly been detained the clergyman's church for a period ranging from two weeks to four months.

During that time, Chenge is said to have been praying for them with intention of healing them from various diseases.

"The patients have been detained in his church but some of them are in very a deplorable state. We suspect they were being offered prayers which changed their normal thinking," Kavoo said.

The chief investigator said they found Chenge in contravention of the law by operating a church without a registration license.

Apart from the registration license, the man of God also lacked a medical practitioner's license which allows him to treat patients with various ailments.

"He operates a church which is not registered. He also detains patients in his church for healing purposes yet he is not a medic. This predisposes lives of patients risks," Kavoo said.

He said they had detained Chenge to enable them probe them to know the truth of what takes place in his church.

"We cannot wait for repercussions of the clergyman's actions in the church. That is why we have become proactive by apprehending them to enable us know exactly what happens in his church to avoid any regrets in future," Kavoo said.

Last Sunday, Chenge told journalists that he had been instructed by the Holy Spirit to ask for an audience with the president.

In a viral clip, the preacher who was clad in a white robe spoke in tongues as he addressed journalists.

He warned that something may happen if he failed to meet with the president within the 21-days period.

The clergyman surprised people when he began roaring and shaking his head as he shared the "revelations" he claimed God had sent him.