A quiet homestead in Kisii County has been left without its mud-walled kitchen after homeowner Charles Onsombi demolished the structure that had attracted hundreds of residents and worshippers over claims that an image resembling the Virgin Mary had appeared on its wall.
The demolition took place on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, bringing an end to days of activity at the homestead in Emenwa village, Nyamache, where people had been arriving hoping to see the reported image.
Onsombi said he decided to bring down the kitchen after the growing crowds disrupted his family’s privacy and daily life.
“I want to stop crowds from flooding my homestead,” he said.
How the image attracted crowds
The unusual incident began after Onsombi’s wife reportedly noticed a marking on the soot-blackened kitchen wall that she believed resembled the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Word quickly spread around the village before pictures and videos circulated online. The reports attracted visitors from different parts of the country, with some coming to pray while others simply wanted to see the image for themselves.
The homeowner had earlier expressed uncertainty about what people were seeing, saying the image being shared online did not look the same to him.
“When people started coming, taking photos and whatever, what I can see on the internet is not exactly what’s here,” Onsombi said.
Police were also called in as the number of visitors grew, with officers helping to manage the crowds and maintain order at the homestead.
Residents divided over what they saw
Visitors who went to the homestead gave different accounts of the marking on the wall. Some insisted they could clearly see the face of the Virgin Mary, while others said they could not identify any unusual image.
For some of those who believed they had seen Mary, the experience was closely linked to faith. “This is the mother of Jesus who has come here,” one visitor said, while arguing that people needed faith to see the image.
Other residents who claimed to have seen it were disappointed by Onsombi’s decision to demolish the kitchen.
“Mimi nilifika kwa hiyo nyumba na nikaona Maria, lakini sasa mzee alifanya vibaya. Hiyo ni baraka, amepoteza,” one resident said.
Calls for a church
The incident also led to calls from some residents and visitors for the area to be preserved and for a Catholic church to be built nearby. They argued that the reported occurrence had spiritual significance and could become a place where people gather for prayer.
However, the homeowner said his priority was his family’s peace and privacy. With the kitchen now demolished, the site that had attracted visitors for several days has returned to a much quieter setting.
Onsombi’s wife, who was reportedly the first to notice the image, is also said to be away receiving counselling following the events.
While some residents remain convinced that they saw an image of Mary, the reported occurrence has not been established as a religious apparition. For now, the wall that sparked the debate is no longer there, leaving behind questions, photographs and differing accounts of what people believed they saw.
