Bishop confesses to killing a pedestrian

Televangelist Thomas Mwaniki of Helicopter Ministries admitted that he hit and killed a pedestrian, but could not recall the registration number of the car he was driving.

Testifying in an Othaya court on Thursday during an inquest into the death of Mr Godfrey Mwaniki, Bishop Wahome said he was not speeding and could not understand how he hit the man since he had seen him cross the road.

“I was in the left lane and saw the man crossing from the right side but seconds later, he threw himself back onto the road,” he told Resident Magistrate Raymond Kibet.

This comes as information emerged that the victim had consumed six bottles of beer, instead of one, as earlier recorded by the police.

The cleric said he stopped immediately after the crash to assist the victim but found his lifeless body lying in front of the vehicle.

The court heard that the road was clear at the time of the accident.

But Mr Wahome surprised the court when he failed to remember the vehicle’s registration number.

“I only know that the vehicle is a Range Rover with the registration number KBX ... but the rest I cannot remember,” he said.

Witnesses told the court that Mr Mwaniki was inebriated at the time of the accident.

Mr Duncan Mugo, who had shared a table with Mr Mwaniki at a bar before the accident, told the court that the man had taken six bottles of beer.

Another witness, who was also at the bar, said he had spotted Mr Mwaniki mixing his beer with a spirit.

The accident occurred in the Kihuri Shopping Centre in Othaya, Nyeri County, on June 22. The hearing continues on November 16.