By Cyrus Ombati
The Standard
May 26, 2011
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000035895&cid=4
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| Fr Kizito leaves Kilimani Police station, Nairobi, on Wednesday, May 26 for medical checkup after he was arrested for allegedly sodomising a 26-year-old man who was his Secretary. |
Renowned Catholic priest Father Renato Sessana Kizito was Thursday arrested and questioned over new alleged sexual abuse.
This is the second time the Italian missionary was being questioned over the claims of sodomy of boys under his care.
A 26-year old man has recorded a statement with police claiming he had been sexually abused by the priest at the Comboni Missionaries in the city, which prompted the police action.
Kilimani OCPD Bernard Muli said preliminary findings had supported the complainant's claims. To further establish the claims, the priest was taken to a police doctor for more tests.
According to the complainant, the alleged crime was committed on May 24 at the missionary offices. The complainant has been a personal secretary to Father Kizito for more than four years.
Details on how the alleged crime took place were scanty. After he made the claims to police, he was taken to the hospital where according to Muli preliminary findings showed there was an anal penetration.
Police tried to arrest Father Kizito on Wednesday night in vain after he refused to come out of his Comboni house. The officers went there Thursday morning and he surrendered before he was driven to Kilimani police station.
At the station, a dozen of youth believed to be some of the boys under the priest's car arrived and tried to harass journalists who were covering the event. About three other people whom witnesses said are priests also visited him at the station.
When he was being removed from the police cells to the police doctor, Father Kizito told journalists he did not know why he was being held.
"I don't know why I am here," he said. He was dressed in a white sweater and blue jeans with a pair of open shoes.
He was put in the booth of a police car and driven away. Muli said if there is further supporting evidence, the priest may appear in court today to face charges of sodomy.
Police planned to visit his house for a search of more evidence. Kizito's lawyer Mutuma Kibanga arrived at the station and was seen talking to him.
Kibanga said he wanted to know what the complainant had recorded with police before making any statement.
In 2009, the Catholic priest was accused of sexually molesting young boys under his care but the priest denied the reports and instead termed them as a "case of blackmail, defamation and extortion."
An investigative report by police later cleared him of any wrongdoing.
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