A pastor from Baringo North Sub-County is still grappling with stigma and social isolation, three months after he was acquitted of what he describes as a “trumped-up” charge of defiling and impregnating a Form Two schoolgirl.
Evans Bundotich, popularly known as Pastor Nehemiah, says he continues to endure public ridicule over the false accusation that he insists has severely damaged his reputation.
“I have lost many friends since my dramatic arrest in Kabartonjo,” he said. “The alleged offence was said to have occurred on Christmas Eve in 2023, yet I knew I was innocent from the start.”
Speaking to journalists in Kabarnet on Tuesday—and flanked by his sister and several clerics who stood by him during the ordeal—Pastor Nehemiah recounted the nearly two-year struggle that drained his finances and peace of mind. He said he even lost some property through auction as he sought to clear his name in court.
“I was ridiculed from the moment I was thrown into the police cells to the time I spent 19 days in remand prison,” he recounted. “The most painful part was after my relatives raised a Sh250,000 bond for my release, yet I still overheard people speaking ill of me.”
He added that DNA tests, coupled with inconsistent testimonies from the complainant, helped the court reach a “logical conclusion” that exonerated him. Despite the anguish, Pastor Nehemiah said he has forgiven all those who framed him.
His sister, Naomi Ruto, said she learned of the allegations through social media and described the effect on their family as devastating.
“Our ageing parents were shocked and heartbroken,” she said. “We feared he might be overwhelmed by the situation—we even worried he could take his own life.”
Wilfred Kandie, an elder in Nehemiah’s church, said the pastor was hosted by the congregation after the district church council relieved him of his duties.
“During his suspension, we gave him psycho-social support, but it was difficult to organise school fees for his children,” Kandie said. “Pastor Nehemiah has a wife and five children. They lived harmoniously, and that is why we stood by him through thick and thin.”
READ ALSO:
Huawei donates laptops to Chegulo Primary as Malava embraces digital learning revolution
Another cleric, Pastor Joshua Abraham, testified that on the day of the alleged offence, Nehemiah was ministering at a wedding about seven kilometres from the reported scene of crime.
“He even signed a visitor’s book in my church, and later I hosted him until late evening,” Abraham said. “People shouldn’t make rash conclusions about their leaders. The devil is targeting servants of God.”
Bishop William Kitilit, Chairperson of the Baringo Human Rights Consortium, urged the public to avoid blanket condemnation and commended the Kabarnet court for handling the matter objectively.
“I have known Nehemiah since his youth. He has a true calling and is a very respectful person,” Kitilit said. He further challenged institutions overseeing gender-based violence to “take a keen interest in the male gender, who in recent times have faced oppression.”
By Kimutai Langat
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
>>> Click here to stay ahead with the latest national news.
