BY MANUEL ODENY

Migori police officers are reporting a case where at least three people were reported dead and buried in a church in Rongo Sub-County, Migori.

On Easter Monday night members of the public reported that there was a dead person at St. Joseph Missions of Africa Church at Kacholla village.

“The initial reports said the person had died in a suspicious way at the center and it was a murder,” Abiud Rariende, the Assistant chief of Kanyadiedo sub location, East Kamagambo location said.

The deceased was identified as Francis Muli, a man who went to the church for Easter healing prayers.

“He was lying on the floor of a prayer room within the Church compound. The body was fully covered in a white rob and wrapped in a grey sheet. when inspected, it had some injuries on the face and foam was oozing from the mouth,” Rariende said.

The dead was a wake up call for government laxity with residents saying earlier complains to authorities have been met with deaf ears.

On Monday morning another body was recovered from the same place.

The two latest bodies were removed to Rosewood mortuary pending postmortem examination.

Residents said people have been dying at the compound and buried hurriedly including a General Service Unit officer weeks ago.

Police in defense said they moved in and forcefully evacuated 57 people residing within the Church, “some looking weak and frail.”

The group refused to give police and government their full names, adding suffix “Alleluia” to their names with fear some came all the way from Tanzania and Uganda.

Police said when the group was escorted to Rongo sub -County hospital for medical attention they flatly refused to be examined by medical officers and began to make noises and singing religious songs.

“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 station to await further directives,” a police report said.

Weeks ago, members of the press, the public and a family of GSU officer who died in mysterious condition and buried at church were met by hail of stones from worshipers when they attempted to access the compound.

The officer who died at the church March 27 while seeking prayers over sickness and was buried within the compound the next day.

The police report indicates that the widow obtained a burial permit from the provincial administration that allowed her to bury her husband as per the doctrine of the church, but the deceased’s family refused to accept.

Lilian Adhiambo, the sister of the deceased, called for justice, saying the family has been living in agony for the last three weeks.

“I am calling upon relevant authorities and human rights defenders to help us exhume my brother so that we can give him a befitting sendoff.”

It forced Rongo Deputy county commissioner George Matundura and armed police to restore calm, but didn’t charge or attempt to investigate the church further..

Matundura said the discussions explored the way forward for the family in seeking a court order that could allow them to obtain security to exhume the body.

“Exhumation cannot be allowed without following the legal process.The representatives agreed to follow the court procedure to get the exhumation order,” Matundura said then

He refuted claims that several people have been buried in the compound, saying the security apparatus was not aware of any such claims.

“We have complained on this church, we only got a limelight because a police officer was buried there. We have more graves which are suspect,” Albert Onjiko a resident said.

Onjiko said for the second time government have failed Kenyans like in Malindi Shakaholla region where several people died in a similar fashion under Pastor McKenzie church

McKenzie and other church leaders are currently facing charges in court.