ACK Bishop in the Dock for Sexually Harassing a Church Worker by Touching Her Breast

An Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) bishop was on Wednesday arraigned in court over alleged sexual harassment. 

Bishop Joel Waweru, a senior member of the clergy, is accused of sexually harassing a female congregant by trying to kiss her and touch her breast without her consent on several occasions since 2018.

Appearing before Senior Principal Magistrate Derrick Ruto of Kibera law courts, Bishop Waweru was charged with two counts related to sexual harassment.

“On diverse dates and different times at Otiende in Lang’ata, Nairobi being a person in the position of authority persistently made a sexual advance at JNM knowing or having reason to believe that such advance was unwelcome by the said JNM thereby interfering with her work,” the charge sheet reads in part.

Bishop Waweru pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on a cash bail of Sh50,000 or Sh200,000 bond.

“He will be released on a Sh50,000 cash bail and the matter will be brought here after a fortnight,” Derrick Kuto ruled.

The complainant told police that the clergyman had on several occasions said that he liked her because she was attractively beautiful, adding that the bishop was so much obsessed with her yet she is married.

She also claims that Bishop Waweru demoted her at a church in Westlands, cut her salary, then transferred her to a different parish as a result of her rebellion.

The woman also narrated to the investigators how the bishop’s wife walked in on them as he tried to kiss her by force.