Bungoma Principal Magistrate Tom Olando, on Tuesday, May 16, ordered self-proclaimed Messiah, Yesu wa Tongaren to be released from police custody.

This was after the prosecution stated that findings by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) did not offer any grounds to implicate the self-proclaimed messiah, whose real name is Eliud Wekesa.

The prosecution, therefore, asked Principal Magistrate Tom Olando to release him and close the case. 

The New Jerusalem Church leader appeared before the Bungoma Law Courts where he was represented by Lawyer Prof. George Wajackoyah.

In the hearing, an officer from the Office of Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) informed the Court that the State had decided to close Yesu wa Tongaren's file. 

Yesu wa Tongaren briefly expressed his dissatisfaction with the arrest and arraignment, noting that he fully complied with the investigators. 

Yesu wa Tongaren further revealed that he was able to accompany DCI officers to his home where they conducted investigations into his religious doctrines. 

"Tulienda na maafisa wa polisi kwa boma wafanye uchunguzi, na bahati nzuri ilikuwa siku ya Jumamosi ambaye huwa ni siku ya Sabato. Polisi walihesabu sadaka wakapata ni shillingi 225 na nyanya kidogo na vitunguu," Yesu wa Tongaren stated. 

On Friday, May 12, the State told Bungoma Principal Magistrate that Yesu wa Tongaren was being investigated for suspected cultic activities. 

The Preacher was also facing investigations into possible activities relating to radicalisation, money laundering, and acquiring proceeds of crime.

The investigators also explored possible links to teaching radical ideologies to his followers, some of whom were minors. 

Yesu wa Tongaren was first arrested on May 10, 2023, and he had been in police custody since then. 

Wekesa's case has drawn a lot of attention in Kenya. Some people believe that he is a false prophet, while others believe that he is a genuine man of God.