Necessary evil: Evangelist on 30-day fast for paying bribe
A man holds Kenyan bank notes. The SEC said his scheme had raised more than $690 million. The Department of Justice said it began in 2015 and that $227 million put in by victims was yet to be repaid.
What you need to know:
- Area police boss Anthony Keter said he is not aware of this alleged corruption in his Makuyu station.
- Central region coordinator Wilfred Nyagwanga has termed the disclosure as “disturbingly serious”.
A Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) evangelist in Murang’a County has announced commencement of 30 days of fasting, prayer and repentance after he paid a Sh2,000 bribe at the Makuyu Police Station.
Mr Francis Mbari told the Nation on phone that he was deeply disturbed for participating in the vice.
"I will repent but I had no choice faced with the inconveniences of getting charged in a court of law and being the subject of gossip," he saiid.
Mr Mbari, who is attached to Muthithi Presbytery and domiciled at Gakuria Hungu branch, said he was arrested Wednesday night at Kenol town and despite showing all the necessary documents to prove he was a church elder from missionary work in Meru County, the police would hear none of it.
“I had used public transport from Meru where I intended to sojourn with a friend at Kenol town and commute the following day to my workstation. At around 9:25 pm I was accosted by two police officers on patrol. They accused me of being drunk and disorderly,” he said.
Mr Mbari says he even offered to foot the cost of medical examination at the nearby Kenol Hospital or Don Bosco to ascertain that he has never tasted alcohol the whole of his 42 years of living, but the officers only laughed off his suggestion.
“I ended up being dumped into an overcrowded police vehicle and locked up in a tiny cell together with five people. There was no social distancing in the cells and some of my cellmates had no masks. The officers there mocked me by asking me to pray for a miracle like the Biblical Paul and Silas," he narrated.
Mr Mbari says he said a simple prayer asking God to forgive his persecutors.
Drunk and disorderly
On Thursday, he was to be arraigned in court to plead to charges of being drunk and disorderly and resisting arrest.
“I consulted widely with my seniors. Not even the appearance of my assistant chief who was ready to take an oath that I was being wrongfully accused bore any fruits. A friendly police officer tipped me to just give a bribe of Sh2,000 to secure my freedom
"I complied, but with a heavy heart, knowing that I was doing the wrong thing but what was at that moment a necessary evil,” he laments.
Area police boss Anthony Keter said he is not aware of this alleged corruption in his Makuyu station.
Already, there is public outcry in the county that the Covid-19 enforcement teams in the area are corrupt.
Yesterday, Central region coordinator Wilfred Nyagwanga termed the disclosure as “disturbingly serious”.
“We are investigating claims that we have some corrupt officers who are using this enforcement directive to extort money from the business community and members of the public,” Mr Nyagwanga said.
He urged members of the public with incriminating evidence to file their complaints to his office or that of the County Commissioners and the Sub County Security committee chairmen for investigations and necessary action to be taken.
