Bishop Freed After Conning US Visa Applicants Of Ksh1.5 Million
Bishop Obonyo was released on a bond of Ksh3 million or a cash bail of Ksh600,000 after he appeared before Kisii Kaw Courts.
Elizabeth Angira 
Bishop Samson Obonyo, a middle-aged individual affiliated with the Pentecostal Evangelistic Fellowship of Africa (PEFA) church in Nyamache, Kisii County, was on Tuesday, May 23 released after allegedly defrauding US visa applicants of nearly Ksh1.5 million.
Bishop Obonyo was released on a bond of Ksh3 million or a cash bail of Ksh600,000 after he appeared before Kisii Kaw Courts.
He was charged with seven counts of embezzling money from church members and their relatives, which is in violation of Section 317 of the penal code.
Kisii police chief Charles Kases confirmed that Obonyo had been arrested on charges of obtaining money by false pretences.
A portrait of Bishop Samson Obonyo. /VIRALTEAKE.ELIZABETH ANGIRA
According to the allegations, the man of God deceived church members and their relatives by promising to connect them with job opportunities abroad, claiming to have networks at the US embassy that could secure visas for them.
"Victims say he told them they had to pay a fee to 'facilitate' their visa. He got Ksh1,480,000 from unsuspecting youths who were eager to be employed in America," Kases claimed.
He allegedly convinced individuals to provide him with money, which he claimed would be used to process their visas for overseas employment. However, after a considerable amount of time had passed without any progress, the church members began to suspect that they were being fooled by the bishop.
The police boss further noted that "After collecting the money from the victims, the suspect went underground. He was arrested in the sprawling Jogoo estate following a tip-off."
During the court proceedings, the prosecution argued against granting bail to the bishop, citing concerns that he may interfere with the ongoing case.
On the other hand, the defendant's lawyer, Benard Omari, pleaded with the court to grant bail to his client, asserting that he was entitled to it.
Bishop Obonyo pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Kugwa Wahinya. The next court hearing, where the case will be mentioned, is scheduled for June 6, 2023.
One of the victims claimed that the bishop made an announcement in the church in 2019, saying there were opportunities for young people in the area to travel to the US for work.
"I am a member of the PEFA church in Itibo. The bishop announced in the church that there are opportunities for people to go to the US.
"In 2020, the plans were suspended ostensibly because of the Covid pandemic, but after international travel resumed, the bishop disappeared with our money and passports," the victim alleged.
Another claimed he gave Obonyo Ksh200,000 for a chance to travel to the US.
The bishop told dozens of young people who had paid him money to get US visas to travel to Nairobi for medical examinations. He also claimed the medical reports were needed for visa processing.
"When they arrived in Nairobi, they were taken to a lodge and later to a house where a quack doctor came and pretended to do medical examinations for the US Embassy," the victim added.
