Police in Mandera County have released a 53-year-old man who was arrested on March 6 after he asked for directions to Somalia.
Backstone Agaro, a member of the Ministry of Holiness and Repentance, was arrested and arraigned in court on suspicion that he was on his way to join Al-Shabaab militants.
Francis Lemusi, the head of the Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) Mandera office, told a Mandera Court that investigations have established that Agaro has no links to any terror cell.
Lemusi said that the member of the Ministry of Holiness and Repentance which is led by Prophet David Owuor could be suffering from depression after selling all his property and giving the proceeds to the church.
The court further heard that Agaro who travels a lot was confused when he got to Mandera after passing a signpost written Mandera County.
“Agaro got confused after passing a signpost written Mandera County. It was his first time in Mandera and was only inquiring about the border to Somalia. He only wanted to know if he had arrived to his destination in Mandera since he saw a signpost,” Mr Lemusi said as quoted by nation.co.ke.
State Counsel Kennedy Amwayi said according to family members, Agaro gave all his investments to the Ministry of Holiness and Repentance.
Mandera Resident Magistrate Dancun Mtai in his ruling ordered Agaro to be released.