Church lay leader arrested over claims of sodomizing son

Police in Uasin Gishu have arrested a lay leader of a church over accusations of sodomizing his son for the last two years, causing him bodily harm.

Turbo Sub-County OCPD Patrick Wekesa confirmed that the church leader was arrested following complaints from the son, who is a secondary school student.

“We have the lay leader in custody, and he is being processed to be taken to court over the offence,” said Wekesa.

Wekesa said the victim is a Form 3 student at a local school and has now been taken to a rescue centre for safety.

He added that the student had undergone medical tests, which confirmed he had been sexually assaulted several times.

The police boss said the student, who is a day scholar, was assaulted by his father at their home.

He noted that the school administration had also reported possible sexual assault on the student, leading to investigations that confirmed the suspicions.

“Officers were sent to arrest the lay leader, and he will be charged in court with offences related to sexual assault,” said Wekesa.

He explained that the boy, aged 19, will be supported to continue his education away from home.

“For safety purposes, he will be kept away from the home and supported to continue learning,” said the police boss.

Wekesa said investigations indicate that the student had been assaulted for a long time, but the matter was kept secret by locals who had suspected the abuse.

A lay leader is a baptised, non-ordained member of the congregation, often called a lay minister, who is licensed by the bishop to assist the clergy in various ministries.

Their duties typically include leading worship services such as Morning and Evening Prayer, preaching, teaching, visiting the sick, and engaging in community outreach, depending on their specific training and license.

Lay leaders are volunteers called to serve by responding to their baptismal vocation and are integral to the church’s mission and community life.