A pastor was arrested in Kirinyaga County on allegations of stealing approximately Sh2 million from the ACK Mwea Town Church.
According to a statement issued by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the funds were intended for the purchase of church seats.
The defendant, named as Apostle Blessed Gilbert Kariuki, was apprehended by police after an exhaustive investigation.
The sad occurrences occurred on February 9, 2023, when the church’s leadership purportedly entered into a contract with Apostle Kariuki and his spouse.
“On February 9, 2023, the church leadership contracted Apostle Blessed Gilbert Kariuki and his spouse to deliver 410 seats to the church on or before April 10, 2023 but the ‘Man of God’ neither delivered nor showed up,” said the DCI
“As reported by the church faithful at Wang’uru Police station, the man of the cloth swindled them their money before disappearing.”
Their mission was to get 410 seats to the church by April 10, 2023.
Nonetheless, despite the impending deadline, Kariuki failed to keep his end of the arrangement. He did not present at the church or bring the seats as scheduled.
Disgusted members of the ACK Mwea Town Church quickly reported the incident to the Wang’uru Police Station.
Every attempt to contact Apostle Kariuki was futile, pushing the church vicar to move decisively by submitting an official report.
Police initiated an inquiry into the situation, and their efforts were rewarded when they caught the perpetrator, offering some relief to the religious community.
The Apostle has since appeared in the Wang’uru law courts to address charges of collecting money through deception.
