The Bungoma Law Court has ordered Eliud Wekesa popularly known as ‘Yesu Wa Tongaren’ to remain in police custody for four more days to allow the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to complete investigations.
Bungoma Principal Magistrate Tom Olando in his ruling court on Friday, May 12 ordered the controversial preacher to undergo a psychiatric assessment to ascertain his mental status.
Olando also allowed the DCI detectives to conduct a search of Yesu Wa Tongaren's home.
The New Jerusalem preacher who was arrested on Wednesday is being accused of running a religious cult in Tongaren, purporting to be Jesus Christ, running an unlawful society, possession or use of proceeds of crime and money laundering.
The self-proclaimed preacher is also accused of uttering words with intent to wound religious feelings which is contrary to section 138 of the Penal Code.
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His lawyer Wamalwa Simiyu however faulted the police for arresting his client without conducting proper investigations.
"My client has been running his church with the full knowledge of the police, who have not had issues with him. The police are supposed to arrest someone if they have enough evidence to arrest him. It is becoming a bad culture … police are arresting people without any evidence only to ask for more time from the court to solicit evidence," he said.
This comes days after President William Ruto formed a Commission of Enquiry to probe what led to the death of over 110 people believed to be followers of Pastor Paul Mackenzie in Shakahola Kilifi County.
