•Authorities Shut Down Melkio St Joseph’s Missions of Messiah Church After Shocking Incidents Spark Public Outcry
Rongo, Kenya| The government has indefinitely closed down the Melkio St Joseph’s Missions of Messiah Church in Opapo, Rongo Town, following a disturbing sequence of events involving secretive burials, allegations of cult-like practices, and a mounting number of unexplained deaths.
The closure was triggered by a dramatic confrontation on the eve of Easter Monday, when a family, accompanied by police, stormed the controversial church premises to reclaim the body of their deceased patriarch, whose burial was being discreetly planned within the church compound.
Church members resisted, insisting the deceased had expressed a wish to be interred there, in accordance with the church’s beliefs.
Police officers, under the direction of Rongo Deputy County Commissioner George Matundura, intervened and rescued 57 individuals from the facility—some reportedly in poor health.
Authorities also retrieved the contested body along with two others found on the premises.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain unclear, with postmortem examinations pending to determine the causes.
“We were informed of sick and injured individuals inside the church, which necessitated our presence,” Matundura told journalists.
“We have rescued 57 people and taken the injured to hospital. Police have now taken over the facility pending further investigations.”
This incident has amplified growing concerns about the church’s operations and doctrines.
The church, which has previously courted controversy, came under scrutiny last month when it buried a General Service Unit (GSU) officer within its compound.
The burial was authorized by a permit issued to the officer’s wife, raising questions about the legality and oversight of such practices.
In an emotional account, Jacinter Achieng, the daughter of one of the deceased, blamed her father’s death on an earlier altercation at the church.
According to Achieng, her father, a devoted member of the church, sustained fatal injuries during a violent clash allegedly involving locals and relatives of the late GSU officer.
“My father was healthy until the day he was attacked,” Achieng said. “He wanted to be buried here. That was his wish. But my uncles took his body by force, ignoring his will. I fear the consequences of not fulfilling his final desire.”
Achieng called on the government to respect her father’s burial wishes and pledged not to participate in any funeral rites conducted outside the church grounds.
The incident has ignited fierce debate over the limits of religious freedom and the state’s responsibility to regulate faith-based institutions.
One congregant, speaking anonymously, defended the church’s burial customs and denied allegations of cultism or coercion.
“Everything we do here is in line with our faith, and our faith is protected by the Constitution,” she said.
“We don’t stop anyone from going to the hospital. That’s a personal choice. Every burial that happens here is done with the necessary permits issued by local chiefs.”
She dismissed as false the claims that the church engaged in illegal or unreported burials. “We are being wrongly accused. There’s documentation for every burial. Nothing is done in secrecy.”
Despite these defenses, government sources confirmed that the ongoing investigation will seek to establish the legality and health implications of the church’s activities, particularly in relation to how deceased members are handled, the circumstances leading to deaths, and whether due process was observed.
The closure of the church and the unfolding probe come amid heightened national scrutiny of unregulated religious sects following previous high-profile cases involving cult-like groups and mass fatalities.
As the investigation continues, residents, families of victims, and human rights advocates are calling for a comprehensive review of how fringe religious institutions are allowed to operate—balancing constitutional protections with public safety and legal compliance.
The future of Melkio St Joseph’s Missions of Messiah Church now hangs in the balance as investigators work to uncover the truth behind the mysterious deaths and the church’s secretive burial practices.
Share This Post