Calvary Chosen Church Bishop David Kariuki Ngari, also known as, Gakuyo has been arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
In a video seen by The Kenya Times, Gakuyo explained that he was on his way out of the country when detectives pounced on him.
According to his video, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) barred him from catching his booked flight and detained him at the airport.
“I am at DCI Airport, they have told me I can’t leave. My plane was just here but I can’t leave,” Gakuyo said in his selfie video recorded at the JKIA.
In his video, the controversial televangelist claimed that the arrest was politically instigated, stating that it was an attempt to settle political scores against him.
He, however, did not mention any names or persons he suspected to be behind his arrest.
“They say I cannot leave the country. I just think there is some revenge somewhere. I am happy I might get an opportunity to see a judge. It has been long since I was told what I have done wrong,” he added.
The DCI was yet to issue a statement regarding his arrest and claims by the time of this publication.
How Gakuyo woes started
Gakuyo, who broke to the limelight as a televangelist in his Calvary Chosen Church has seen his integrity questioned both in the public opinion’s court and courts of law especially after the scandal surrounding Ekeza Sacco.
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In 2019, DCI opened a probe into his dealings as the founder of Ekeza Sacco after allegations that he could have siphoned over Ksh1 billion through the troubled savings society.
At the time, the Ministry of Trade wrote to the DCI requesting investigations into the sacco after complaints from the over 70,000 members concerned about the fate of their savings.
In August 2023, the Bishop said he was in the process of paying back members of the SACCO who had saved with the society. However, he noted that the Sacco was cash strapped attributing it to financial challenges in the economy. According to him, Ekeza had already paid back some 800 million to members both in terms of cash and assets.
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Riding on the fame he earned through his activities as a church leader and a real estate investor, Gakuyo ventured into politics in 2017 when combined forces with former Governor Ferdinand Waititu under the ‘United for Kiambu Front’.
Despite having all expressed their interests for the gubernatorial seat, Gakuyo and his fellow politicians in the front shelved their ambitions and backed Waititu. Later in 2022, the Bishop unsuccessfully vied for the Thika parliamentary seat.
