What was supposed to be a place of faith and spiritual refuge became a scene of pure terror for three young children in Siaya County.
Three self-proclaimed religious leaders are facing serious criminal charges after a horrifying “deliverance” ritual went disastrously wrong, leaving two minors hospitalized with severe, agonizing burns.
Before Bondo Law Courts, Gaudencia Juma Otieno (alias Church Mother), Stephen Omondi Otieno (alias Pastor), and Clinton Owour Obudho (alias Deacon Daudi) were charged with unlawfully managing an unregistered entity known as the St. Abraham Israel Assemblies of God Church (also called St. Abraham Sayuni).
Inside a secret church, the shocking and the most disturbing ritual unfolded where Deacon Daudi allegedly poured scalding water over three minors under the guise of casting out evil spirits.
The barbaric ritual left two of the children with severe burns that required urgent hospitalization.
Prosecution Counsel Edwin Nyakundi told Resident Magistrate Hon. Chepchirchir Christabel Maiyo that the suspects had been operating the illegal fellowship in Ogago Village, Barkowino, without registration or clearance required under Kenya’s Societies Act.
Obudho now faces additional charges of grievous harm contrary to Section 234 of the Penal Code, assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to Section 251.
All three accused individuals pleaded not guilty to the charges. Taking into account the grave nature of the offences, the court issued pastor stephene and Deacon Obudho with a bond of Sh 300,000 with no alternative cash bail.
On the other hand, Juma , the church mother was granted a bond of Sh 100,000, with an alternative cash bail of KSh 50,000.
