A teenage woman was on Friday arraigned before a Nairobi court over allegations of stealing a baby at the Neno Evangelical Church run by controversial Bishop James Maina Ng'ang'a.
Dorcas Cheruto Wangila was arraigned before Magistrate Kennedy Cheruiyot for allegedly stealing the 9-year-old girl during a church service on August 15, 2019.
The magistrate heard that the girl was taken away from her mother Susan Wambui Nderu while the woman was lost in prayers after apparently being "caught by the holy spirit".
This, according to the prosecution, gave the suspect, a house help in Githurai, the opportunity to strike, and took the girl with her to the gate.
The prosecution said that she asked the girl, who was seated next to her, to accompany her to the gate where she claimed she had left her wallet.
Nderu, upon realising that the girl was missing, raised alarm, accusing the suspect of kidnapping her child which resulted in her arrest.
The 19-year-old on Friday pleaded not guilty to the charges, further pleading with the court for a lenient cash bail.
The magistrate, however, dismissed her pleas, slapping her with Sh500,000 bond, with an option of cash bail of a similar amount.