Popular Televangelist Gakuyo arrested at JKIA
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Popular televangelist David Kariuki Ngare, alias Gakuyo arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA)
Popular televangelist David Kariuki Ngare, alias Gakuyo arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Televangelist and Ekeza Sacco founder, Bishop David Kariuki Ngare, has claimed that detectives are arbitrarily detaining him at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Gakuyo who is the founder of Ekeza Sacco, recorded a video on Wednesday, February 21, narrating his arrest ordeal.
The controversial televangelist noted that he had planned to fly out of the country but detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) ambushed him and barred him from catching his flight.
Gakuyo in the self-recorded video noted that he was unaware of the motive behind his arrest at the airport. He however attributed the arrest to a political witch hunt.
“They say I cannot leave the country. I’m at JKIA. I just think there is some revenge somewhere. I’m happy I might get an opportunity to see the judge and be told on what case I have. Right now I’m at the DCI airport,” Gakuyo said in the video.
He further explained that he was being held in the DCI officers at the international airport.
Gakuyo who unsuccessfully contested the Thika Town MP seat in the 2022 elections, has been on the police radar over allegations of embezzling over Ksh1 billion from members of his Ekeza Sacco.
This was after the Ministry of Trade filed the complaint at the DCI headquarters setting the stage for investigations into the scandal affecting 78,000 members Ekeza Sacco.
In 2019, the members camped outside DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road demanding action be taken against the bishop.
Gakuyo, in response, hinted at selling his property including hotels and parcels of land to reimburse the aggrieved members.
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In January 2020, his Sacco began paying back some of the victims with the repayment conducted in phases from those who had deposited Ksh5,000 and below.
Three years later in August 2023, the bishop revealed that members who were yet to receive their funds would be compensated with land. He further disclosed that the Sacco had by then paid back Ksh800 million in cash and assets.
“We haven’t been generating any revenue in our firms, Ekeza and Gakuyo Real Estate, and that’s why most members were repaid with land and other assets like vehicles,” he stated in an interview.
An audit by the Commissioner of Co-operatives’ office linked Gakuyo to irregular withdrawals of more than Sh1 billion from the sacco, part of which he used to buy a palatial residence at the leafy Nyari estate and to finance his real estate firm.
Despite the reports, Gakuyo has maintained his innocence setting the stage for a prolonged court battle.
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