Bungoma Principal Magistrate Tom Olando has today, Tuesday, May 16, ordered the release from custody of controversial preacher Eliud Wekesa alias Yesu wa Tongaren after the police failed to prove claims of cultism against his New Jerusalem Church.
He had been accused of running a religious cult in Tongaren, purporting to be Jesus Christ, teaching radical ideologies to his followers, promoting money laundering and acquisition, possession or use of proceeds of crime.
The prosecution asked the magistrate to release the accused and close the case affirming that findings by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) did not offer any grounds to implicate the man of God, whose real name is Eliud Wekesa.
Wekesa was represented in court by 2022 Roots Party presidential candidate, Prof George Wajackoyah.
During the hearing, Yesu wa Tongaren expressed his disappointment with the arrest and false accusations labelled against him.
He noted that he fully complied with the investigators for the truth to be unveiled.
He said he accompanied DCI officers to his home, where they investigated his religious doctrines and found only Sh225 in the offertory basket.
On May 12, the prosecution told the court that the controversial preacher was being investigated for suspected cultic activities.
He was also being investigated for possible involvement in radicalization, money laundering, and acquiring proceeds of crime.
Investigators also investigated possible links to teaching of radical ideologies to his followers.
Yesu wa Tongaren was first arrested for questioning by the DCI on May 10, 2023.
Olando ordered that he be freed unconditionally for lack of evidence to sustain any charges against him.
By Bronley Kidari and Roseland Lumwamu
