A married father of two has been arrested in Lodwar, Kenya, for allegedly impersonating a Catholic priest and conducting Masses and other religious activities in several churches in Turkana County.
The suspect, identified as Jones Bogonko Onchonga, allegedly presented himself as a Catholic priest and gained access to the Diocese of Lodwar, where he reportedly participated in church services for more than three weeks.
According to reports, Onchonga allegedly used documents purporting to establish his credentials as a priest. He reportedly took part in Mass at St Augustine Cathedral and other Catholic institutions in the area.
His alleged impersonation was uncovered after questions arose about his performance during a Mass. Reports said he stumbled over one of the prayers, prompting church officials to investigate his identity and credentials.
Further checks reportedly established that he was not an ordained Catholic priest. He was also identified as a married man with two children from Kisii County.
The Catholic Diocese of Lodwar subsequently issued a warning distancing itself from Onchonga and stating that he was not a recognised Catholic priest. The diocese cautioned clergy and members of the public against allowing him to celebrate Mass, administer sacraments or perform other priestly functions.
The suspect was subsequently arrested and taken before a Lodwar court, where he faced a charge of personation under Section 382 of Kenya’s Penal Code.
Reports indicate that Onchonga initially pleaded guilty but later changed his plea to not guilty during a subsequent court appearance. He was granted bail in the form of a KSh100,000 bond with a surety of the same amount, or a cash bail of KSh50,000. He reportedly remained in custody after failing to meet the bail conditions.
The case remains before the court, meaning the allegations against him have not been proven and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Police are also investigating how the suspect allegedly obtained the documents used to present himself as a priest and whether he had previously impersonated clergy elsewhere.
The incident has raised concerns over the verification of visiting priests and the need for religious institutions to confirm the credentials of individuals seeking to perform clerical duties.
