Former TV anchor Esther Arunga and her spiritual mentor, jazz musician-cum-preacher Joseph Hellon, on Thursday came out fighting in response to media reports that have put them and their church in the centre of a storm.
At a packed press conference at Pizza Garden in Nairobi, the two strongly denied suggestions that they were involved in cult-like activities.
Ms Arunga conceded she had quit her job with KTN, called off her planned wedding and was now living in the church mansion. She said there was nothing strange in that because she was an adult and capable of making her own decisions.
She also denied that she had shut her family and friends out of her life, although her parents and siblings continued to express concern over her well-being.
Mr Hellon blamed the saga on the fact that he had blocked the wedding between Ms Arunga and her fiancée, Mr Wilson Malaba, set for April. Mr Malaba is a former preacher with the church who has since been removed.
“The reason the wedding was stopped was because Wilson’s beliefs, practices and conduct, were contrary to the church’s beliefs and teachings,” said Mr Hellon.
Even though Mr Malaba was a church leader, he was not a registered member, Mr Hellon said, and since he was upset, he allegedly sent unflattering text messages and the matter was now in court.
Mr Hellon said that police had visited the residence to investigate claims that he was a drug dealer and a pimp running a cult. “My house was searched last week, computers and phones confiscated and I was arrested, spent a night at Kilimani Police Station and later arraigned in court, before getting out on bond,” he said.
Mr Hellon also confirmed that Ms Arunga has been living in his house in Runda since March last year.
“Is there any problem in a 29-year-old grown-up living where they want to live in?” he asked. Ms Arunga attributed everything to “media stupidity”, adding that she was also a journalist and knew there was no rush to do the story.
She explained that she called off the wedding to Mr Malaba on learning “that he was kicked out of the church. That’s why I don’t want anything to do with him.”
However, in a separate conversation with the Nation , Mr Malaba claimed that the wedding was called off after Ms Arunga was told by church officials that a famous American evangelist had identified somebody else for her.
Mr Hellon explained on Thursday that a Kenyan going by the name Quincy Timberlake had indeed joined the church from the UK. “Quincy is with us. He has been my friend since childhood; he went to the UK, came back late last year and we are now doing music together,” explained Mr Hellon.
“His position in church leadership and what he’s up to, apart from the fact that we are doing music together, remains nobody’s business,” he said in response to queries if that was the man destined to wed Ms Arunga. Until recently, Ms Arunga topped showbiz magazine poll charts of top female TV personalities. Her latest move has baffled the local entertainment scene.
The Finger of God Ministries is headed by Mr Hellon, one of Kenya’s top jazz saxophonists and music tutor. Many church officials and members are in show business. Mr Kevin Ombajo, aka Big Kev, told the Nation that he was a member of the church for one year but quit three weeks ago “because things were not handled properly according to the Bible.”
The Runda mansion hosts monthly jazz sessions that attract enthusiasts, including successful women professionals. “Last Sunday we had a church service at Hellon’s house in Runda, at 9.30am,” an informant who declined to be named said. That was when Mr Hellon spoke of a fallout, the result of which was his expulsion of some of his flock because “they were trying to undermine his leadership.”
On Tuesday the Nation visited the home but a guard at the gate said neither Ms Arunga nor Mr Hellon was in. After several attempts to reach the presenter, she answered a call and spoke briefly before hanging up.
Mr Hellon’s wife, Kuyu Hellon, visited the Nation offices the following day and explained that the church began in 2003 and currently has 300 members, up from 60 at the same time last year. She said most of its new members normally seek help after having emotional and other problems in life.
