A married father of two, identified as Jones Bogonko Onchonga, has been charged in Kenya after allegedly posing as a Catholic priest and conducting religious activities in several parishes within Turkana County.

Onchonga was accused of presenting himself as an ordained priest of the Catholic Church and allegedly using forged church documents to gain access to the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar.

According to reports, he subsequently celebrated Mass and participated in other religious activities at a number of Catholic worship centres, including St Augustine Cathedral in Kalokol, St Thomas Chapel and St Mary’s Lodaraja.

His activities reportedly came under scrutiny after photographs emerged showing him celebrating Mass alongside the Bishop of Lodwar, Rt. Rev. John Mbinda, C.S.Sp.

The photographs raised concerns within the Catholic community and prompted the Diocese of Lodwar to publicly clarify Onchonga’s status.

In a statement signed by Bishop Mbinda, the Diocese distanced itself from him, stating that he had no priestly authority or official position within the Catholic Church.

The Diocese also warned parishioners and members of the public against allowing him to celebrate Mass, administer sacraments or perform any other function reserved for duly ordained Catholic priests.

According to the charge sheet, Onchonga allegedly impersonated a Catholic priest between July 31 and August 12, 2026, in Turkana Central Sub-County.

Prosecutors alleged that he falsely presented himself to Bishop Mbinda and officials of the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar as a duly ordained priest authorised to conduct church meetings and administer sacraments.

He has been charged with identity theft under Article 382 of Kenya’s Penal Code, an offence which reportedly attracts a maximum prison term of three years upon conviction.

Onchonga first appeared before Chief Magistrate Evanson Ngigi on August 14, where he reportedly pleaded guilty to the impersonation charge.

However, when he subsequently appeared before Magistrate Michael Lokitam on August 17, he changed his plea to not guilty, meaning the allegations against him will now have to be proved by the prosecution.

The accused remains in custody after failing to meet the bail conditions imposed by the court.

The court granted him a KSh100,000 bond with a surety or, alternatively, KSh50,000 cash bail.

The case has attracted attention because Catholic priests are ordinarily required to undergo years of formation, theological education and formal ordination before being authorised to celebrate Mass or administer sacraments.

The Diocese’s intervention has also raised questions over how the accused allegedly gained access to different worship centres and was able to participate in religious activities before concerns were raised about his status.

Onchonga is presumed innocent of the charge unless and until the prosecution proves the allegation against him before the court.

Follow Our WhatsApp Channel _______________________________________________________________________ Groundbreaking Guide For Lawyers: Adigwe Publishes ‘Artificial Intelligence For Lawyers’ With Free Research eBook The book also examines Nigeria's legal ecosystem, focusing on the LPELR and NBA AI Guidelines. As a bonus, every purchase comes with a FREE eBook titled: How to Use the AI Features in LegalPedia and LawPavilion. Ohio Books Ltd praises the publication, stating: "....this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic." How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626 Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACIarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria. _______________________________________________________________________

“Order Justice Omolaye-Ajileye’s Electronic Evidence Books Now” — Essential Guides On Evidence Act, Case Law And Digital Proof

Two leading books on electronic evidence by Hon. Justice Professor Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye, Rtd., PhD, FICMC, are now available for purchase. The publications, Electronic Evidence (Second Edition), With The Evidence Act, 2011 and Compendium Of Cases On Electronic Evidence, Volume II, 2020–2025, provide practical guidance, legal analysis and recent judicial authorities on electronic evidence in Nigeria.Order directly from the author here: https://velvety-cendol-7387ed.netlify.app/ _______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence

Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via: 0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888 Website: www.alexandernigeria.com

________________________________________________________________________ [A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation _______________________________________________________________________