By Evelyn Kwamboka and Cyrus Ombati
The Standard
July 8, 2009
http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?id=1144018808&cid=4
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| Kizito: Denied claims of child abuse |
A Catholic priest at the centre of child molestation allegations confessed to having engaged in sodomy with children under his care, a court has been told.
Mr Michael Ochieng’, a founding trustee of Koinonia Community Registered Trustees, a charity run by Father Renato Kizito Sesana, claimed the priest disclosed to him he had "been experimenting sex with children and unfortunately had been recording the same activities for fun".
In his affidavit filed in court, through his advocate, John Khaminwa, Ochieng’ claimed to have been in the company of a co-trustee — Mr Michael Owiso. He said they were shocked and decided to seek counsel from the priest’s Father superior.
"We were of the belief that the matter was being handled appropriately when we learnt, to our surprise, that he had fled to Tanzania purportedly to learn Kiswahili in February," he said.
In the case, he is seeking orders to bar the priest, the Reverend Martin Wanyoike, Elia Gian Marlo and Katherine Karanja from acting as the organisation’s trustees and operating its bank accounts or entering the premises.
The case is on grounds that following an alleged sex scandal against the priest he has excluded Ochieng and others from the running of the Trust.
New team
Wanyoike, Marlo and Karanja are some of the new trustees appointed to replace Ochieng’ and others.
Ochieng’ is also seeking orders, including a warrant of arrest against the priest to show cause why he should not furnish security for his appearance in court.
Justice Hatari Waweru certified the case as urgent and ordered the priest along with his new team of trustees to be served with the suit papers.
The judge also ordered that the case be heard inter-parties on July 14, before any judge at the High Court’s Civil Division.
Kizito had earlier denied molesting boys under his care and blamed his former board of trustees of waging a dirty war against him in order to take over Koinonia property worth Sh3 billion.
Police grilling
"Let me state very clearly. I have not sodomised any child ever in Kenya or anywhere else. I am ready to face anybody who can prove the opposite," he said.
Separately, police yesterday questioned Kizito over the allegations of sodomy.
Kizito appeared before detectives investigating the claims at the CID headquarters, Nairobi, for the second day.
He first went there on Monday with his lawyer and a church official.
Sources said the officers want to clarify various issues before they make their recommendations on the case.
"He has been here since morning and we are going on with our investigation. We have several issues that we want clarified," said a source that did not wish to be named because he is not authorised to speak to Press.
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