An incident in Uasin Gishu County involving a pastor from Moi’s Bridge has brought him before the Eldoret court, facing charges related to the possession of 70 liters of illegal alcohol referred to as “chang’aa.”
This religious figure, identified as Isaac Tenge from the New Jerusalem Church, was discovered in possession of this illicit substance on a Monday. His inability to pay a cash bail set at Ksh 50,000 resulted in his remand at Eldoret Prison.
Isaac Tenge found himself in front of Chief Resident Magistrate Rosemary Onkoba, who officially charged him with the offense of possessing a questionable substance. Magistrate Onkoba subsequently granted his release on a cash bail of Ksh 50,000 or an alternative bond of Ksh 100,000 with one surety of a matching amount. However, the financial obligations proved insurmountable for the pastor.
The alleged incident occurred on September 24, 2023, at Pastor Tenge’s residence in Moi’s Bridge, within Soy Sub-County, Uasin Gishu County. Law enforcement officers from Moi’s Bridge Police Station, acting on a tip from the public, conducted a thorough operation to clamp down on the illegal alcohol trade in the area. During this operation, they confiscated the illicit brew, leaving both church members and local residents astonished and dismayed.
Interestingly, during the court proceedings, Pastor Tenge appeared to have been deserted by his congregation, as only his wife and three children were present, in stark contrast to his typical following. The pastor categorically denied all charges leveled against him.
Following the bail denial, Pastor Tenge was subsequently transported to Eldoret Remand Prison alongside other detainees. In a surprising turn of events, he raised concerns in court about injuries sustained during his arrest, alleging that both he and his wife were physically harmed by the arresting officers. He pleaded for immediate medical attention.
The case is now scheduled for a hearing and mention on October 5th of this year, where further details will be revealed and addressed within the legal framework.
