Eight patients were on Saturday rescued after the Senate Adhoc Committee investigating the proliferation of rogue religious organizations raided a church in Kisumu.
The patients were being held at the Holy Ghost Coptic Church and were allegedly being prayed for by the church.
The developments come as the government tightens the noose on churches believed to be promoting controversial practices.
Led by the committee’s vice chairperson Shakila Mohamed, the Committee pitched a tent at the church to investigate claims that patients were being held against their will at the facility.
A contingent of heavily armed security officials found eight patients confined in some of the rooms in the church compound and rescued them.
Senator Mohammed said they decided to raid Fr Pesa’s church after getting information that a number of sick people are detained within the church premises.
She noted that the church is not allowed to detain the sick and said that a total of eight people were released and taken to the hospital for medical checkups.
“We are leaving our officers to conduct a thorough search within the church to ensure they check all the corners and rooms in a bid to save other sick people that might have been left,” she said.
According to the nominated senator, the patients had been locked in dark rooms and had also been chained to their legs.
“These people are living like animals. They are telling us that they only survive on one meal a day and in the same room, they have a bucket that acts as a toilet that is only being emptied once a week thereby making this look like a small Shakahola,” she said.
Her comments were echoed by Senator Veronica Maina who claimed that they will ensure that religious leaders violating the Constitution are brought to book.
She also praised Health CS for assisting them by approving free treatment for all affected individuals.
“If you find any situation like this in the country even where the Ad hoc committee is not available, just bring it to the authority for assistance, “she said.
She noted that those who were rescued looked tortured and their mental capacity will also be assessed.
The committee noted that a majority of Shakahola victims were coming from the Western Region and that is why they decided to visit Kisumu and Vihiga counties.
Those who were rescued were driven by Redcross ambulance to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The committee also had a hard time convincing some of the victims to board the ambulance.
