A self-styled pastor, James Kigera, who allegedly conned a Nanyuki trader by pretending he could cast out demons has been jailed for six months. [PHOTO/nation.co.ke]
A pastor who allegedly conned a Nanyuki trader his Sh12 000 by pretending he had powers to exorcise demons has been handed a six-month jail term.
58-year-old James Kigera pleaded guilty to the charges that he fraudulently obtaining the cash from Bessy Kanana at Nanyuki open air market on May 17.
The court heard that he approached the complainant at her fruit-selling shop at around 1pm and told her that demons had possessed her life and that this was why her business was doing badly.
He told her to part with the money so he could cast the demons away.
Of the Sh20 000 that the pastor demanded, Kanana only managed to raise Sh12,000 which the man of cloth took and conducted a short prayer.
He then instructed her to walk for seven kilometres without carrying anything.
On returning, she found the man had disappeared never to be seen around again.
Last Sunday, the complainant however spotted the pastor in Nanyuki Town and raised alarm, prompting passers-by apprehended him and hand him over to the police.
When he was arraigned, he admitted the offence but prayed for leniency.
The court ordered him to pay a Sh50,000 fine or serve in jail for six months.