Pastor charged with theft of Sh23.5m

A Pastor of a city church has been charged with stealing Sh23.5 million allegedly received from a donor for running operations of the religious institution.

Mr Daniel Bushebi Munalo, who is a senior pastor with Word of Life Centre, denied before a Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego that he stole the money wired from the church sponsors based in Canada.

Pastor Munalo--in his 40s--allegedly stole the money within a span of two(2) years between November 1, 2019, and August 9, 2021.

The magistrate heard that Mr Munalo, who is one of the appointed agents of the Word of Life Church, stole the money which had been entrusted to him to run the operations of the church.

The court heard that part of the money was also supposed to buy a parcel of land.

The pastor faced four counts of stealing by agent and presenting a fake documents at Eco Bank where the church holds an account.

It is alleged that on August 6, 2021, at the Eco Bank Plaza 2000 within Nairobi county, Mr Mulano knowingly and fraudulently uttered a letter for change of account mandate for the church's bank account.

Pastor Munalo allegedly presented the fake letter to the branch manager to effect certain changes in the operation of the account.
Another charge stated that on March 1, 2019, at Eco Bank West Minister Branch within Nairobi he presented another fake letter for change of account operators name to the branch manager.

He was further charged that on February 2021 he presented another fake letter for change of name for the account operators of the Church Account at the West Minister Branch of Eco Bank.
The accused who denied the charges levelled against him is represented by lawyer Kavutha Muthama who pleaded for his release on bond.

In her bail plea, Ms Muthama claimed that the pastor is being persecuted selectively for unknown reasons.
"Your honour, the accused person before you is a senior pastor with the Word of Life Church and is being persecuted for unknown reasons," Ms Muthama told the magistrate.

She disclosed that the church has seven pastors and the accused is the senior most who oversees array of operations of the religious organization.
The monies he is accused of stealing were received from Canada to finance church activities.

Ms Muthama further divulged that the church account has five(5) signatories with Mr Munalo being one of them.

She stated that the accounts are jointly operated and wondered why the other co-signatories are not in the docks.

The lawyer said that, “just like Saint Paul, Pastor Munalo is being persecuted for pursuing the truth.”

She appealed for the accused person to be released on lenient bond terms saying that he is not a flight risk and cannot run away from the 'flock' he serves on a high calling.

The prosecution did not oppose the accused to be released of the accused on bond but prayed to consider the gravity of the matter.

In her ruling, the magistrate directed the pastor to deposit a cash bail of Sh2 million with alternative bond of Sh10 million.

The case will be mentioned on March 27, 2025, for pre- trial and directions.

She directed the Prosecution to supply witness statements and exhibits to the defence.