SDA pastor arrested for allegedly defiling minor

Seventh-Day Adventist Church (SDA) Pastor Bernard Tambo arrested and detained at Homa Bay Police station. [James Omoro, Standard]

A pastor who allegedly defiled a Class Eight girl has been arrested in Homa Bay County.

The pastor who is in charge of one of the mainstream church’s district comprising of 10 churches, was detained at Homa Bay Police Station on Wednesday.

He surrendered to the police after going missing for six days over allegations of defiling the 14-year-old girl, a member of his church.

The suspect is accused of defiling the minor in the church’s house meant for a pastor’s residence at Kobuola Kogwang’ Sub-location in East Kanyada Location on December 2.

Homa Bay Sub-County Police Commander Sammy Koskey said the pastor had been on the run since he allegedly committed the offence.

“The pastor has been underground but he surrendered this morning when he was accompanied by his lawyer,” Koskey said.

The police boss said they were going to take him to the hospital for medical tests before he is charged in court.

“He has to undergo medical tests as protocol for acquiring evidence regarding the alleged offence. We will arraign him in court later after the test,” Koskey said.

According to the girl’s father, the minor was sent by her teacher to deliver letters to the pastor in his house where the incident happened.

The pastor was to host a fundraiser for settling medical bills of his child who is admitted in a hospital in Nairobi.