A woman being put on fire to burn her evil possessions in a church in Bomet/ SCREENGRAB
Worshippers of a church in Kapkwen on the outskirts of Bomet town have burnt an elderly woman to get rid of her 'evil' possessions.
In a video shared by Citizen TV, two people were seen carrying the woman, who was tied both on her legs and hands.
The woman can be heard screaming.
A witness tells the media the woman came with a snake, a frog and drugs.
"Alikuwa na nyoka, chura, madawa na mairisi. Alijaribu kumtoa hizo vitu vyake akaangaka. Sasa pastor akamsaidia. Tukamtoa hizo mairisi zake, tukamtoa nje, tukatafuta kumchoma," she said.
(The pastor tried helping her but she fell so we brought her outside and tried to burn her).
She said the Holy Spirit has made the church an abode.
Following the incident, authorities in Bomet shut down the church.
It was reported that members were allegedly being subjected to caning in a ritual meant to exorcise evil spirits.
The shocking incident came to light after two women said to be members of the church fled from the church’s altar, when they failed to endure the mob beatings administered by their pastor, being aided by church ushers.
The two victims who managed to escape, reported the incident
at Kapkwen Police Station, prompting swift action by law enforcement officers.
Bomet County Police Commander Edward Imbwaga, who led the manhunt and the church’s closure on Friday, confirmed the shutdown.
He stated that authorities were investigating the church’s legal status and operational history.
"The search for the suspects continues, even as we find out whether the church is legally registered and for how long it has been operational. Preliminary reports indicate that the majority of its members are women," Imbwaga said.
The two women who escaped from the church were taken to a hospital in Bomet, where medical examinations confirmed they had sustained bruises from the ordeal.
Speaking to the media, the County Chief Officer for Health, Felix Langat confirmed the injuries, stating that the victims had sustained bruises across their bodies.
"The two had bruises on their legs and cheeks, proof that they had gone through a lot, but they have received medical attention before being referred back to the police to fill out a P3 form for assault documentation," Langat said.
The incident has raised concerns about the practices of some religious institutions in the area, with authorities promising to do a thorough investigation.
The police have urged other victims to come forward and assured the public that the law will take its course.
