Father John Pesa said the graves belonged to some sisters who were buried within the church premises in accordance with their last wishes.

Police on Friday, August 4 discovered a graveyard at the Holy Ghost Coptic Church of Kisumu which is run by Father John Pesa.

Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) visited the church and stumbled on the graves along the fence of the church.

However, according to Father John Pesa the graves belonged to some sisters who were buried within the church premises in accordance with their last wishes.

In addition, Father Pesa claimed that this is according to the Holy Ghost Coptic Church doctrines.

Father John Pesa's Coptic Church under another controversy. — Holy Ghost Coptic Church founder Father John Pesa. PHOTO/Courtesy.

“Those who die in hospitals in Kisumu are brought here for prayers and there are taken to their homes.

However, when sisters, who dedicate their services to the church die they cannot be taken to their home and are buried here,” said Father Pesa.

Moreover, Father Pesa stated that no other parochial had been buried within the Church compound apart from the four sisters.

“If someone dies, we take them to their home including our parochial,” he said.

Also, the police officers rescued at least five sick individuals they found in the rooms within the Church and moved them to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.

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According to the DPP, they are likely to make more discoveries and revelations as investigations continue.

The raid came five months after Kisumu County Health Officials visited the church following reports of how the church was detaining twenty-three sick persons in secret rooms.

Senate Coptic Church Raid

On June 24, the Senate ad-hoc committee investigating the proliferation of religious organizations raided the Holy Ghost Coptic church and rescued 8 people who were being offered prayers.

The Senator Shakila Mohammed-led committee conducted the raid after getting reports of the church holding hostage several sick people.

“We have managed to rescue 8 patients from this church, never again will we have another Shakahola in this country,” said the Senator.

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Those rescued were taken to Kisumu County hospital, psychiatric section to receive medical attention.

Further, Shakila said the church had no license to keep sick people.

She promised that police officers will continue to comb the church to get rid of any patient detained for prayers at the church.