Married father of two arrested in Kenya for posing as Catholic priest and conducting Mass, administering sacraments

A married father of two has been arrested after allegedly posing as a Catholic priest and conducting Masses in several churches in Turkana County, Kenya. 

Jones Bogonko Onchonga is accused of using forged Church documents to present himself as a priest in the Diocese of Lodwar.

He reportedly celebrated Mass and administered sacraments at St. Augustine Cathedral in Kalokol, St. Thomas Chapel and St. Mary’s Lodaraja. 

In a twist that has left many Catholics stunned, Onchonga was reportedly seen celebrating Mass alongside Bishop John Mbinda, the Catholic Bishop of Lodwar, before his identity was eventually exposed.

The Diocese of Lodwar in an official notice, through Bishop Rt. Rev. John Mbinda, C.S.Sp., disowned Onchonga, M.C., as a Catholic priest, accusing him of administering sacraments and performing priestly duties without authorization.

He warned the public against engaging him in any priestly duties.

The revelation has left some faithful questioning how a married man with two children managed to move between parishes and perform religious duties for so long without being detected.

Police are investigating how Onchonga obtained the alleged forged documents and how he managed to gain access to different churches in the diocese.