Police officers in Kilifi County have arrested Abel Kahindi, a pastor at New Foundation Church, for allegedly spreading false teachings in the Chakama area of Magharini Constituency.
The preacher is being held by authorities in the area as reports emerge suggesting that the church may be involved in suspicious activities, with several congregants dying under suspicious circumstances.
Police investigations led by Kilifi North Deputy County Commissioner Samuel Mutisya claim that Kahindi has been scamming residents by convincing them to climb a special tree at the church to solve their problems.
Kilifi Pastor Sells ‘Holy Water’ and Forces Worshippers with Demons to Climb Tree
It was revealed that Kahindi forces worshipers who are possessed by demons to climb trees, believing the demons will run away. He also sells what he calls ‘holy water’ to congregants at Ksh100 for three jerricans.
Mutisya further disclosed that congregants have been falling victim to the scam, worshiping without the Bible, and blindly believing in the preacher’s teachings.
“He is the first pastor I’ve seen without a Bible, and during an interview, he said he loves giving out holy water, which he sells at Ksh 100 for three jericans,” Mutisya said.
“He also believes in a holy tree. Worshipers who come in as though they are possessed or have demons climb that tree, and once they do, the demons leave. These are beliefs that are difficult to understand.”
Also Read: Murkomen Reveals Plans to Regulate Churches in Kenya
Kahindi Speaks on Holy Trees and Congregants Dying
While addressing the media, Pastor Kahindi denied claims that he preaches without a Bible, saying he was ambushed by police officers and didn’t have time to carry it with him.
“I am a pastor, and I use the Bible, but where I was taken from, I didn’t even know I would make it to church — that’s why I came without it, though I have it,” the pastor said.
Kahindi also dismissed allegations that congregants have died under his care, clarifying that only one person passed away on the second day after arriving at the church, at a time when he was away in Malindi.
“No one has died here while I was ministering to them — only one person died on the second day after arriving, before I even reached the church. I was in Malindi at the time.”
Also Read: Police Shut Down Church Operating Secret Morgue and Cemetery Within Its Compound
He further explained why he refers to a specific tree within the church compound as the ‘Tree of Life’.
“That’s the Tree of Life, because people come here possessed by demons, and when they climb it, the demons leave them. That’s why I call it the Tree of Life.”
Regulation of Churches
This follows a similar incident in Migori County where two congregants died while 57 were rescued from Melkio Joseph Mission Messiah church after they refused to be treated at a local hospital.
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen announced that the Cabinet committee has considered a raft of recommendations by the Rev Mutava Musyimi-led taskforce proposing a legal framework for the regulation of churches.
He added that in the coming week, the cabinet will consider the report and approve it for onward tabling and consideration by the National Assembly.
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