Bishop Gakuyo Claims He Was Arrested At JKIA
The controversial televangelist noted that he was planning to fly out of the country but the detectives stopped him in his tracks and barred him from catching his flight.
Marvin Chege 
Popular televangelist David Kariuki Ngare, alias Gakuyo has claimed that he was arrested by detectives at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.
Gakuyo who is the founder of Ekeza Sacco, recorded a video on Wednesday, February 21 narrating his ordeal while being detained by the detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) at JKIA.
The controversial televangelist noted that he was planning to fly out of the country but the detectives stopped him in his tracks and barred him from catching his flight.
In the self-recorded video, Gakuyo claimed that he was unaware of the motive behind his arrest at the airport, though he had linked it to a political witch hunt.
A terminal at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. /KAA
Nonetheless, he expressed that he looked forward to being arraigned and charges being preferred against him.
"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.
The DCI by the time of publishing this article was yet to issue a statement regarding his arrest.
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.
An audit by the Commissioner of Co-operatives' office linked Gakuyo to irregular withdrawals of more than Ksh1 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.
The withdrawals had forced the members to conduct protests demanding refunds. 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.
Despite the reports, Gakuyo has maintained his innocence setting the stage for a prolonged court battle.
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.
