Esther Arunga, Hellon join cult in Runda - By Grace Kerongo - The Star

FORMER TV presenter Esther Arunga, who resigned from KTN in a huff last month, is now living in The Finger of God Church in Runda with musician Hellon and several members of his congregation.

She has broken off her engagement and cancelled her wedding due to the wishes of a "spiritual leader from the US" who sends them instructions.

Tusker Project Fame teacher and jazz musician pastor Joseph Nimroo Hellon has denied claims that he runs a cultist church that has entrapped Esther.

What started with a court case in Kibera where Hellon was prosecuted for sending an abusive message to a member of his church has sparked a series of controversial events, including claims that he has targeted several media personalities for recruitment to his church.

Police launched investigations after her parents filed a complaint, but police sources yesterday said it was difficult to prove that the church was a cult.

"We could not prove that the girl (Esther) had been kidnapped or was being held against her will," the CID officer said.

Yesterday Hellon said that all the charges against him are false and malicious.

"A couple of guys in my church started a hate campaign against me after they left and now because their spiritual beliefs were contrary to what the church believes in, they have even started their own church," he said. "The CID investigations against me have been completed and they found out that it was a case of slander and it has been withdrawn."

The saxophonist who talked to The Star yesterday evening said he had been unavailable to answer questions because on Thursday evening, police confiscated his phone and computers for investigation.

"Now that they do not have a case against me or the church, they returned everything to me and withdrew it."

The Finger of God church is known for its middle class followers. The church services are usually held at conference centres in the city.

Hellon said that he has been housing the TV personality for a year now.

He accused his personal assistant for hacking into his email and using the information to slander him.

"I know about those emails, they are with my lawyers now," he said.

In one of the said emails Hellon is promised Sh100,000 to buy land to build the church by a US based televangelist if he follows a set of rules.

The rules demanded that Nigerian musician Quincy Timberlake be made an apostle in the church. In addition Hellon was to record a number of tracks with Timberlake him and make sure they get a lot of media attention.

Other conditions include Hellon throwing out some members of his church from his Runda residence especially those opposed to Quincy and to "never readmit the disfellowshiped apostles."

Sources said it was after this that problems started brewing in the church.

Some members like Esther Arunga's then fiance Wilson Malaba and event Guru Kevin Ombajo were thrown out.

Things took a turn for the worse when the 'US tel-evangelist' prophesied that Quincy is the right husband for the news anchor. CID officers investigating the case said they established that E¬ther and Quincy are lovers.

An inside source claims, "Esther's impending nuptials to Wilson have been put on hold till the whole drama dies down. No final decision can be made because she is not herself and the decisions she is making are out of fear."

On February 11, the police visited the Runda residence looking for the anchor after the family members expressed concern for her safety and well-being.

The following day, in a chat with the televangelist on gmail, Esther admitted that she has disowned her family.

"That is not true," Hellon said. "Yesterday Esther met with the mother and had lunch. The reason why the parents are upset is because the whole family is Adventist while she has gone to join an apostolic church."

As for the churches spiritual practices Hellon said, "There is nothing clandestine, we do everything other churches do, we read the bible and follow it, partake of Holy Communion and baptize."

Tusker Project Fame winner Alpha Rwirangira also attended the church services in the months that he was in Kenya after his big win.

In an interview with The Star from his home in Rwanda, he was asked if he left because of the churches spiritual practices he said, "That is true, what I saw is true that is why I left."

Another former TPF contestant Patricia Kihoro denied been part of the mentorship programme at Hellon's Runda residence where a number of women are housed. "No I had no idea there was something like that.

Kilimani police advised Esther's family to seek remedy from the courts as they investigate other criminal claims leveled against Quincy and Hellon.

The police say the lady is above 18 years and her case doesn't warrant offenses like kidnapping or abduction since the family was aware of her decision to quit her employment and move into the Runda house.

The saxophonist's final words were, "I'm an upright man and I won't stand for anything unbiblical. I'm not afraid to stand before a camera and say it."

Hellon is set to appear at the Kibera court on February 26 for fixing of a hearing date on the abusive text message case.