A pastor and his two intercessors who were arrested and detained in March after staying in an Eldoret hotel for 41 days and incurring a Sh371,000 bill are now appealing to politicians and spiritual leaders to bail them out.
Pastor Alex Munyoki, 39, Gilbert Mukisa, 32, and Lilian Walukana stayed at Eldoret Goshen Hotel for 41 days, reportedly praying for the country to overcome economic challenges.
According to the trio, an international missionary had promised to sponsor them by settling their hotel bill, but they are yet to be bailed out because the pastor could not reach him.
Munyoki claimed that his prayer partner from the US, whom he identified as one Mr Rooney who he had met earlier in Machakos, failed to respond to his phone calls, forcing the hotel's management to detain them.
Appearing before Senior Resident Magistrate Richard Odenyo at the Eldoret law court, Munyoki thanked the hotel for being patient with them and appealed to well-wishers to help them pay the amount.
"I am a well-known pastor from Kitui County. I don't want my name to be tainted. I am in talks with the hotel to withdraw the case so that we can settle as I appeal to well-wishers, including former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, to help me settle the bill," he said.
Munyoki told the court that the prayers were meant for the good of the country and that it was unfortunate that his benefactor had gone missing.
Bless Sonko
"I plead with Sonko as a man of good heart to kindly help me and God will continue blessing him," said the pastor.
The three were charged with obtaining credit by pretense.
The court heard that on February 15, 2023, at Eldoret town, they incurred the debt at Goshen Inn Hotel by falsely pretending that a sponsor from the US would clear the debt.
During their stay, they were hosted in a room with two beds. Munyoki said that he used to share a bed with Mukisa while Lilian slept on the other bed.
The three were released on a Sh80,000 bond with an alternative cash bail of Sh60,000 each.
The hearing continues tomorrow.
