Police have rescued 57 people while two were found dead at a St. Joseph Mission of Africa Church, Kochola Village, in Migori County following a tip-off, raising fears of cult-like activities reminiscent of Shakahola tragedy which hit the headlines in late 2022.

According to Kamagambo area police station, the security and intelligence committee from Rongo sub-county discovered one lifeless body lying on the floor of a prayer room in the church on Sunday, April 20.

The police report that the body was found wrapped in a white robe and in a grey sheet, and had injuries on the face with foam oozing from the mouth. Another body was recovered later in the day on the church premises. The two bodies have since been moved to Rosewood Mortuary pending postmortem.

"The scene was processed, and necessary action was taken. The body was removed to Rosewood Mortuary pending postmortem," the report stated.

Further scrutiny of the church premises led to the rescue of the 57 people, between the ages of five and 77, who had been residing within the compound. 

After being escorted to the Rongo Sub-county Hospital for medical attention, the police claim that the frail and weak individuals refused medical attention. They, however, began to sing religious songs and had to be removed from the hospital. 

"When they persisted, the medical officers advised that the group should be removed from the hospital since they were disturbing the other patients at the facility. They were taken to the [police] station to await further directives," it stated.

This incident reminds one of the horrifying Shakahola discovery in 2022/23, in which almost 500 hundred lives were lost in the name of faith, as the controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie and 30 other accused persons now face 191 charges in an ongoing trial.

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