Bishop Divorces Wife, Says She Was the Devil in Human Form

Nairobi, Kenya: Bishop Thomas Wahome of Helicopter of Christ Church says he divorced his wife because
she used to assault him in public.
In an exclusive interview with The Nairobian, Wahome says his wife, Leah Mueni s. caused him untold
suffering and embarrassment because she could strip
naked in public whenever they disagreed at home.
“Most church members saw the suffering I was going
through. If we had a small difference of opinion at
home, she would come to church, in front of
congregants and abuse me physically.
“I never hit back. I am a man, more so a man of God.
I am not allowed to fight, or beat women. Men should
never beat women whatever the circumstances,” he
says.
Wahome adds: “It was better to suffer national shame
just once by divorcing her, than suffer weekly shame
whenever she started acting up in public. The fact
that I am saved doesn’t mean I should lead a
stressful life.”
We had met for an interview at an eatery adjacent to a
petrol station along Mombasa Road. Dressed in a
sharp brown suit, white shirt and black tie, Bishop
Wahome arrived in a black Range Rover Sport, and
everything came to a stand still.
Scores of women who had been peacefully drinking
their coffee left their tables and all headed to meet the
bishop.
“We admire your work,” said one. “Please pray for
me,” another piped.
One woman gripped his hands, and didn’t want to let
him go. A burly man in a dark suit came and pried the
woman away, then held on to Wahome’s hand.
He also asked to be prayed for. And right there, in the
parking lot, the televangelist said a short prayer,
asking God to shower the people with good health
and ‘Amen’, they all chorused.
It took 15 minutes before I finally got to meet Bishop
Wahome. We sat in a corner, and he ordered tea while
I contemplated whether to order my usual cold
Whitecap or not.
I settled for double vodka and Krest. At least, I
reasoned, there won’t be a brown bottle on our table.
“I own nothing,” he began when I asked about the
Range Rover and the Land cruiser VX he drives. “My
salary at the church is Sh40,000.
The cars I drive belong to the ministry. The ministry
pays for the house I live in. The VX was given to me
by a prominent politician that I prayed for and he won
an elective post he had been seeking.”
I cleared my throat, and asked about the elephant in
the room: “Do you charge those who want to touch
you Sh1,200? Do you charge Sh1,100 to tell people
whether their names are in the Book of Life?”
Wahome takes a deep breath, and leans forward, his
eyes fixed on me, “My brother, that’s is a total lie. You
are welcome to our sanctuary anytime. Come
incognito, and see for yourself, ask the church
members at random. I don’t do such things,” he says
wearily.
The allegations, he says, are the work of the devil.
“Just like Catholics use rosaries and crucifix and
instruments of prayer, I use holy water and anointing
oil.”
He explains that he has anointing water for
businesses and for deliverance.
Your luck was stolen “You can use the water to help
your business flourish and also sprinkle on your child
before he goes to school so that no harm can befall
your child.
“Even David was anointed by Samuel and that why he
managed to defeat Goliath, and your child faces
many goliaths during the day,” adds Bishop Wahome.
He says he can also restore luck, for those who have
lost it. “Some people are unlucky because your luck
was stolen by someone else, I can pray and restore it
back to you,” he claims.
But why does he charge Sh1,000 for those who want
to book appointment to see him?
My church flies
“It is the governing council of the church that came
up with that rule, although I see people whether they
pay or not. And the money doesn’t come to me; it
goes into church projects.
Come to church and see how many widows, orphans
and vulnerable people we support. They are so many,
and we can’t give them spiritual food then let them
hunger for real food,” says Bishop Wahome.
Helicopter of Christ Church was established in 2006.
Why the odd name? “God told Noah to build an ark to
save people from destruction. But the Ark doesn’t
move, it only floats, so God told me to name my
church helicopter, because it flies,” he reveals.
Born and raised in Othaya, Bishop Wahome says he
quit school due to financial constraints. “We were 11
children, and I left home for Nairobi in 2004 to look
for work.”
His first job was as a watchman in Kahawa West at a
salary of Sh2,800. “I never complained about the
cold, in fact, it helped me stay awake, sing and pray
“Eventually, a tenant in the estate asked me if I could
go work in his hardware. The new salary was Sh3,000
and I will get Sh20 every day for lunch. I agreed,”
says the man of God.
He, however, was fired after four months because he
spent most of his time counseling and ministering to
people.
“I then started selling boiled eggs. After selling three
crates, I would then start preaching by the roadside in
Kahawa.
“Eventually, I went to Kayole and opened the church. I
gained prominence when I started using
handkerchiefs to impart blessings, and moved the
church to Kamukunji before finally moving to town.”
Wahome has advice for men: “If you dream that you
are making love to a woman, that’s a bad omen. You
should seek prayers, or the next day you’ll get into
trouble.
“When you leave your house in the morning, don’t
leave your wife unhappy unless you want problems all
day long!” he warns.
“Never beat your wife. I was pushed to the wall but I
never laid a finger on my former wife. I have forgiven
her, and I dutifully pay upkeep for the children,” he
concludes.
When reached for comment, Wahome’s ex wife Leah
Mueni snapped, “I am now happily married and I
don’t want to talk about Wahome at all.”