The man, identified as Jones Bogonko Onchonga, reportedly infiltrated the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar by presenting forged documents that claimed he was an ordained priest. His deception allowed him to celebrate Mass and partake in religious ceremonies at notable worship centers, including St Augustine Cathedral and St Mary’s Lodaraja.
His fraudulent activities came to light when photos emerged of him celebrating Mass alongside Bishop John Mbinda of Lodwar. This revelation raised alarm within the Catholic community, prompting the Diocese to issue a public statement clarifying Onchonga's lack of authority.
In the statement, Bishop Mbinda firmly distanced the Diocese from Onchonga and urged parishioners to refrain from allowing him to perform any priestly duties. The Diocese emphasized that he holds no official position within the Church.
Onchonga now faces charges of identity theft under Article 382 of Kenya’s Penal Code, which carries a potential prison sentence of up to three years. He initially pleaded guilty to the charges but later changed his plea to not guilty during a court appearance.
According to the charge sheet, Onchonga allegedly posed as a priest between July 31 and August 12 in Turkana Central Sub-County, falsely presenting himself to Church officials as authorized to conduct meetings and administer sacraments.
As of now, he remains in custody after being unable to meet the court's bail conditions, which include a KSh100,000 bond or KSh50,000 cash bail.
The community watches closely as this unusual case unfolds, highlighting concerns about security and integrity within religious institutions.
No comments:
Post a Comment