Arresting Pastor Victor Kanyari for
obtaining money under false pretenses would be unlawful and malicious because
nobody has lodged a complaint against him, a police officer has said.
“Although there is overwhelming
evidence from the video aired by KTN, we cannot act on media reports,” the
officer from Kamukunji police station, who requested anonymity because he is
not authorised to speak to the media, said.
The documentary aired by KTN shows
Kanyari, of Salvation Healing Ministry, coaching some of his church members to
give false testimonies of prayer-induced healings or of him ending their
financial difficulties to lure others to pay for 'miracles'.
Kanyari also allegedly duped people
from different parts of the country to 'plant' a Sh310 'seed' and others to
send him up to Sh50,000 using mobile money transfer services.
The officer said someone must make a
formal report and write a statement before Kanyari is arrested.
“There is a problem because no one
will be willing to travel from, say, Murang’a to file a complaint that he was
defrauded of Sh310 by the pastor while those conned huge sums of money fear
stigmatization. They don’t want to look gullible and foolish,” the officer
said.
On Thursday, DPP Keriako Tobiko
directed the CID to open investigations on Kanyari. He said watching the expose
convinced him that there is sufficient evidence to probe Kanyari.
Officers at the Kamukunji police
station, in whose jurisdiction the alleged offenses took place, however say
they have not received a formal directive from Tobiko.
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