This archive report was first published on 12 September 2019.
Televangelist Thomas Wahome of the Helicopter Ministries has been embroiled in a controversy surrounding his alleged use of abusive language against a government administrator.
On August 28, Nyeri South Deputy County Commissioner Henry Ochako accused Bishop Wahome of using abusive language, prompting the Director of Public Prosecution to seek his prosecution at the Othaya Law Courts.
However, in a move to block the prosecution, Bishop Wahome has filed an application at the High Court in Nyeri, seeking to suspend the intended prosecution.
According to documents filed in court on Thursday, Bishop Wahome claims that the intended criminal prosecution is aimed at coercing him to drop a pending criminal case in which a village chief is accused of stealing his two dogs worth Sh300,000.
He has named the chief Paul Waigeni, Mr Ochako, Office of Ministry of Interior and the DPP as respondents in the application.
"The DCC lodged a criminal case number 543 of 2019 at a court in Othaya against me where I was to be charged with using abusive language in a manner likely to cause breach of peace," says the Bishop in his affidavit.
Chief Wageni is under trial on accusations of stealing two exotic dogs (Terrier breed) in December 2016 in Kihuri village, Othaya.
The application, certified urgent by Justice Hatari Waweru, will be heard on Monday, September 16.
