Police officers have arrested Abel Kahindi Gandi, pastor of the New Foundation Church in Chakama, Magarini Constituency, Kilifi County, over the deaths of church members after tree-climbing rituals.
Kilifi North Deputy County Commissioner Samuel Mutisya confirmed the incident. The pastor allegedly instructed members of his congregation to climb a "tree of life" in pursuit of healing and freedom.
"After questioning him, we were shocked to learn that he conducts his ministry without using the Bible. He places his belief in the Tree of Life. The believers who come here are possessed, and they believe that if they climb the tree, they get healed," Mutisya said.
According to Gandi, descending the tree signifies spiritual cleansing and deliverance from life’s problems, including illnesses and poverty.
Mutisya said that members of the community reported several deaths among those who took part in the ‘Tree of Life’ ritual. He also ordered the immediate closure of the church.
The pastor is now being held at the Malindi Police Station. He has denied the accusations of causing the deaths.
“These allegations are false. I have not killed anyone. I do work as God has instructed me. That tree is the Tree of Life. The people who came here were possessed by the evil spirits.
"When they climb the tree, the spirits leave them. I have welcomed the government to investigate thoroughly — they will find the truth,” the pastor said.
He also spoke about one case where a church member died and said he was not involved, as he was in Malindi and not at the church.
"There is one who came here, slept, and died the next day before I even got to the church. I was in Malindi when the incident happened. I have never prayed for someone and they died right there,” he clarified the death case.
This case echoes an earlier incident in Rongo, Migori County, where police officers from St. Joseph Mission of Africa Church in Kochola Village rescued 57 people who had been locked up inside a church building on April 21.
In a report, the Kamagambo Police Station in Migori County said that 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 body, which was found wrapped in a white robe and a grey sheet, had injuries on the face, and foam was oozing from the mouth. Another body was recovered later in the day on the church premises.
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