Jones Bogonko: Kin recounts 'fake' Catholic priest's troubled past

For nearly three weeks, a man from Kisii moved through the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar dressed as a priest, administered religious rituals, celebrated Masses, and even gained access to the bishop's official residence. This was before questions emerged regarding his identity and credentials, which subsequently brought the elaborate deception to an end.

The man, known as Jones Bogonko Onchonga, is accused of personating a Catholic priest and presenting himself as a member of the Missionaries of Charity. The Catholic Diocese of Lodwar has since publicly disowned him, emphasizing that he is not a Catholic priest per se and he had no authority to perform priestly rites.

According to the Diocese of Lodwar, Onchonga presented ecclesiastical documents which were later found to be forged and purported to be a priest authorised to conduct church operations.

The case has ignited national attention after the accused reportedly engaged in Mass alongside Bishop John Mbinda at St Augustine Cathedral and later conducted services at several other Catholic worship centres, including St Thomas Chapel, and St Mary's Shrine.

The Diocese issued a formal notice dated August 16, 2026, warning the clergy and the faithful that the man presenting himself as Rev. Fr. Jones Bogonko Onchonga, M.C., was not in any way a Catholic priest.

The alleged actions, as per the Church, included administering sacraments while knowing he is not an ordained minister, conducting church celebrations without authorisation, usurping ecclesiastical office, and falsifying ecclesiastical documents.

The alleged deception began to unravel after the faithful and church officials became suspicious of his manner of celebrating Mass. Reports indicate that he made conspicuous liturgical errors during one of the services, igniting queries concerning his priestly formation. His vestments and way of conducting the liturgy also reportedly raised eyebrows.

The most significant breakthrough came when the Lodwar bishop and his administration chose to scrutinize his documents. The credentials he had presented as proof of his priestly status were subsequently found to be fraudulent.

Investigations by the police pointed out that Onchonga had never attended a Catholic seminary or received formal training in philosophy and theology. Instead, he allegedly taught himself Catholic liturgy and worship procedures through catholic books. Police reportedly recovered 17 books on Church liturgy and doctrine from him.

Crosshead

The investigation also reportedly established that he had presented documents identifying him as a priest attached with the Missionaries of Charity.

According to reports, he informed authorities that he had been impersonating a priest for almost two years.

But while the Lodwar episode has raised questions about how he managed to penetrate the Church's structures, his cousin and kin says the behaviour should not have come as a complete surprise to those who knew him while growing up.

When The Nairobian made a visit Onchonga's home in Nyabite, Nyamira County,  it was almost deserted. We only found a man who identified himself as his uncle; but who declined to give his name. He did not bother to welcome us, only asking us who we were and what our mission was.

After we introduced ourselves, he told us to proceed with what we wanted; he did not stop his chores, trimming trees at his compound.

We asked him whether he can give us information regarding his nephew Jones Bogonko who was arrested for personating a priest. He reffered us to his parents but whom he claimed had stepped out as they were dealing with cases involving his son. He was not categorical on where exactly they went or when they will return.

Nonetheless, he shared scanty details about his nephew and what he knew about the case before him.

According to the account he did share, Jones Bogonko was born in 1998 at the Nyabite home. He attended a local academy before joining Ekerubo Gietai Primary School, and later Nyansabakwa High School.

"We tried ourselves to raise him well under Catholic tradition, the news on what he did in terms of personating a priest in Lodwar was a surprise to us as a family," the uncle told the Nairobian.

'He was troublesome from childhood'

James Nyakundi, a cousin of Onchonga, says the man hails from Nyabite in West Mugirango Constituency, Nyamira County, and comes from a well-known family in the area.

Nyakundi says Bogonko's father, Onchonga, is a retired government officer. He further says Jones attended Ekerubo Gietai Primary School, and then Nyansabakwa High School in Nyamaiya Ward, Nyamira County, before joining Kisii National Polytechnic, where he studied for about one-and-a-half years before being expelled over disciplinary issues.

A high school mate contacted by the Nairobian, who identified himself as Humble Omae, confirmed to have studied with him at Nyansabakwa High and said he loved everything about the Catholicism.

"Actually, he was the leader of YCS (Young Christian Students) and occasionally talked about becoming a priest," he told the Nairobian, adding: "personally, I was not surprised when I heard he has been arrested trying to personate himself as a priest."

According to Nyakundi, Onchonga was involved in the institution's Catholic choir, St Don Bosco, during his time at the polytechnic.

But his cousin describes his childhood and youth as marked by disciplinary challenges.

"Alikuwa mtu wa mambo tangu utotoni. Alikuwa mjanja sana na mara nyingi alipenda kutafuta njia zake mwenyewe," Nyakundi told the Nairobian, insinuating that he  "he was a crafty and troublesome young man."

Nyakundi's most striking account relates to Onchonga's involvement in church activities at Nyamira Parish, where he reportedly served as a youth leader. It was during this period, Nyakundi claims, that Onchonga ran into serious trouble with the church administration over management of the youth group's financial coffers. According to his cousin, the parish priest confronted him after discovering what he alleges was the misappropriation of funds.

"Father in charge aligundua alikuwa mkora, akampiga makofi na kumfukuza. Alimuonya asirudi church tena," Nyakundi said.

From church youth leader to matatu conductor

After leaving the church youth leadership, Nyakundi continues to explain that Onchonga sought employment in the public transport sector, working as a conductor with Ena Coach. But according to his cousin, his difficulties with discipline allegedly followed him into the workplace.

"Onchonga was eventually suspended after a series of misconduct-related incidents," Onchonga revealed to the Nairobian.

The accounts paint a picture of a young man who repeatedly found himself at odds with institutions; first at school, later in church and subsequently in employment.

Years later, the same alleged pattern has culminated in a criminal case in Lodwar, where he is accused of crossing an even more serious line: presenting himself as a Catholic priest despite allegedly lacking priestly ordination or formal seminary training.

A married father of two

The Catholic Diocese of Lodwar says Onchonga is a Kenyan from Kisii, married and a father of two children. The same details have been reported by international Catholic news agency Agenzia Fides.

His family status has added another dimension to the story because Catholic priestly ministry in the Latin Church ordinarily entails a commitment to celibacy, making his alleged presentation as a Catholic priest specifically striking.

The Diocese says he had no mandate to perform priestly services on its behalf and cautions the faithful against entertaining him in any role.

Social media life

Until the time of his arrest, his Facebook page remained active — interestingly, not in the manner expected of a man of God, a Catholic priest for that matter.

According to Catholic regulations, priests are either to refrain from social media or, if they must be present on such platforms, to conduct themselves with the highest decorum.

Interestingly, this chap was a free animal on social media. His Facebook page, running under the name Jones Mose Onchonga, has amassed close to 5,000 followers and features photos of him in a range of everyday settings. Notably absent from the page is a single photo of him in priestly attire or inside a church.

He engages with his followers and friends in a thoroughly casual manner, posting all manner of jokes touching on relationships, football and other social happenings — hardly the online footprint one would expect of a clergyman.

In one post, he shares an image of a deceased man he identifies as Father Raimund.

In several other posts, he appears in decidedly casual attire, far removed from anything befitting a priest.

One post read:

"I will continue forgiving people untill I buy a gun"

He also occasionally posts riddles for his followers. One such riddle goes:

"Riddle, Riddle. I'm black when u buy me, red when u used me and when I turn to white know it's time to throw me away!! What am I?"

Another post simply reads: "ayayaya I wish I met you earlier."

And in a nod to his football allegiances, another post declares: "Watu wa Arsenal mtoe jezi zifuliwe sasa pooo!!!!"

The casual, jokes-and-banter tone of the page stands in stark contrast to the solemn clerical persona he is accused of adopting inside the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar — and for many who have since come across the profile, it has only added another curious layer to an already bizarre impersonation case.

Now facing court

Onchonga was arrested and arraigned before the Lodwar courts over allegations that he falsely presented himself as an ordained Catholic priest.

When he appeared before Resident Magistrate Michael Lokitam on August 17, he pleaded guilty to the charges — a plea he later changed to not guilty. This change of plea was not opposed by the prosecution.

He was granted bond of Sh100,000 with one surety of a similar amount, or an alternative cash bail of Sh50,000, and was to remain at Lodwar G.K. Prison pending fulfilment of the bail terms. The case is scheduled for mention on August 31, 2026, with the hearing set for October 13, as per court reports.

For the Catholic Church, however, the episode has already become a cautionary tale regarding the necessity of undertaking proper verification of one's identity, credentials and ordination status of clergy prior to granting them access to sensitive religious functions.

For his relatives back in Nyamira, the unfolding case has reopened memories of a young man they say had long displayed an unconventional and stubborn character.

What remains to be determined in court is whether those alleged traits evolved into the elaborate impersonation that made it possible for him to move from Kisii to Lodwar and, for several weeks, operate in the public sphere as a Catholic priest.

 

THE JONES BOGONKO FILE

WHO IS HE? Jones Bogonko Onchonga, a 28-year-old man from Nyamira County who is accused of posing as a Catholic priest.

THE ALLEGED DISGUISE: He reportedly presented himself as Rev Fr Jones Bogonko Onchonga, M.C., claiming an affiliation with the Missionaries of Charity.

HOW HE WAS EXPOSED

Questions arose after he allegedly made unusual liturgical mistakes while celebrating Mass. Church officials later scrutinised his credentials and reportedly discovered they were forged.

HOW FAR DID HE GO? He allegedly celebrated Masses, conducted church services and administered sacraments before his credentials came under scrutiny.

THE PAPER TRAIL: The Diocese of Lodwar says documents presented by Onchonga as proof of his priestly status were fraudulent.

POLICE DISCOVERY: Investigators reportedly established that he had never attended a Catholic seminary or undergone formal training in philosophy and theology.

HIS ‘TRAINING’: Police reportedly recovered 17 books on Catholic liturgy and doctrine, suggesting he studied the practices himself.

A SURPRISING PAST: His relatives and former schoolmate say he had a strong interest in Catholicism and had previously spoken about becoming a priest.

A TROUBLED RECORD: His cousin alleges that he faced disciplinary problems at school, church and later at work as a matatu conductor.

A FAMILY MAN: The Diocese says Onchonga is married and has two children — despite allegedly presenting himself as a Catholic priest.

THE COURT CASE: He initially pleaded guilty before changing his plea to not guilty. He was granted a Sh100,000 bond or Sh50,000 cash bail.