Controversial televangelist, David Kariuki Ngare alias Gakuyo, surrendered to the police on Thursday in relation to accusations of defrauding members money amounting to around Ksh1.5 Billion.
The founder of Ekeza SACCO appeared before the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) accompanied by his lawyer and six officials of the troubled Sacco at around 2 pm.
Speaking on Wednesday, CS Matiang’i promised the victims that “Rogue officials mismanaging funds in the co-operative movement will be prosecuted after the conclusion of investigations.”
The scandal has made headlines in the country for some considerable time now with the members of the Sacco coming out to demonstrate against the alleged embezzlement of their money in separate incidents.
The money was apparently transferred from the Sacco accounts to the personal account of the bishop for his personal use.
In 2018, the government revoked the license of the Sacco following complaints by the members that it was sharing financial accounts with the Gakuyo Real Estate Company.
When pressure mounted on Ngare in 2019 in relation to the scandal, he attempted to sell his properties, hotels, and parcels of land in order to pay the members.
He intended to sell Lillies Hotel in Juja, Salama House and Swift Breeze Hardware on Garissa Road, a quarry in Murang’a County, and a 250 acre land in Machakos County.
His attempts were, however, stopped after an application from the Commissioner of Cooperatives.
Sources indicate that they were questioned by the security officials including Head of Serious Crimes Unit Joseph Kariuki for around an hour and a half.
Gakuyo was under the radar of the security officers following an initial directive by the CS for Interior Fred Matiang’i.