How rogue preachers are luring women to church for sex

"Old habits die hard" is a fitting expression for the rising cases of preachers luring women to churches with the intent of exploiting them sexually.

These incidents had subsided for a while, but in recent days, shocking cases involving self-proclaimed pastors have been gradually resurfacing.

The latest case involves Meru pastor Daniel Mururu, who is currently in police custody as authorities request more time to complete investigations into his activities.

According to the police and witnesses in Nchiru, Tigania West, Mururu had allegedly been instructing women and girls to strip naked, shaving their pubic hair, sucking their breasts, and engaging in sexual acts with some of them inside the church.

More disturbingly, it is alleged that church elders and ushers were also involved in the abuse.

Twenty-three witnesses, including a 17-year-old secondary school student, have provided statements to the police. The student was reportedly defiled and is now five months pregnant, according to the authorities.

Reports suggest that the pastor and the elders were conducting cult-like activities at the church, radicalizing their followers. Additionally, there are allegations that the preacher and elders coerced members into performing indecent acts, threatening them with calamities such as sickness and infertility if they refused.

When the local community learned of the alleged happenings at the church, they raided and burned it down.

The residents recounted how members were inducted into the church and described the unusual worship practices, including the shaving of women's pubic hair, which was then placed in a "special" bag. New members were also instructed to surrender their livestock and money.

These disturbing revelations come months after another cleric, Bishop Danson Gichuhi, popularly known as Bishop Johana, was filmed fondling a woman in a makeshift tent he called a church. The footage sparked heated online debate, with many calling for his arrest and prosecution. However, the 'Bishop' defended himself, saying, "That is my specialty and approved by God through my anointment."

The woman in the video, who was undergoing a supposed "deliverance" from demons, defended the preacher, claiming she had willingly sought his services. "My husband had eloped with another woman. In an attempt to bring him back, I sought the services of a witchdoctor who applied medicine on my bust and genitals to make me more attractive. But it didn't work," she explained.

Some church associations have expressed concern over the increasing number of fake preachers who use God's name to exploit desperate women, promising them spiritual salvation while intending to seduce them.

Hudson Ndeda, chairperson of the Church and Clergy Association of Kenya, suggests that integrity issues among some pastors are the root cause of these incidents. To combat such behavior, Ndeda advocates for victims to come forward and take legal action.

"These women have husbands, and they should take legal action against such individuals. These are people who have overstepped their boundaries," Ndeda said.

While some argue that women are easy targets, Ndeda insists that faith is important to both men and women, and that these challenges may vary by gender. "Maybe men face different challenges than women, but that doesn't mean women are the weaker link," he added.

Nelson Makanda, Secretary General of the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya, noted that in some cases, where women are lured into sexual relationships by fake preachers, it could be consensual, as both parties are adults. However, he also pointed out that such cases raise questions of character, stressing that pastors must practice what they preach and that some may be struggling in their personal lives.

"They need support, possibly through mentoring before taking on leadership roles. Some of them are not pastors at all but merely pretending to be," he said.

Makanda explained that women often fall victim to such cons because they trust preachers who appear to hold positions of authority. "You find vulnerable people-whether due to relationship issues, physical, emotional, or financial needs-and the preacher presents themselves as a caring person," he explained.

Many times, the bishop added, people seeking help in church believe they are encountering compassionate individuals, only to find themselves exploited in their time of need.

Makanda emphasized that sexual abuse is not limited to Kenyan churches, as such cases occur in other sectors as well.

Some preachers target underage girls. One such example is James Njuguna Kuria of the First Born of the Holy Spirit Church in Ngong, who was sentenced to 70 years in prison for defiling two minors. The cleric was convicted by Milimani Court Magistrate Carolyne Muthoni for defiling a 14-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy.

In 2020, Pastor Bernard Tambo Odhiambo of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church was charged with defiling a girl. He denied the charge and was released on a bond of Sh100,000 with a surety of the same amount.

In a rare ruling, a High Court judge recently sentenced a Catholic priest convicted of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl to spend three years preaching about the country's sexual crimes law.

Psychologist Alexander Mutua explains that preachers who promote prosperity teachings often take advantage of women, who sacrifice a great deal without much hesitation.

"On the other hand, societal values have shifted, and some individuals now offer their bodies for money without a second thought," he added.