A pastor on a spiritual cleansing mission in Uganda was arrested in possession of a snake as he attempted to cross back into Kenya at the Malenya border point.
A pastor on a spiritual cleansing mission in Uganda was arrested in possession of a snake as he attempted to cross back into Kenya at the Malenya border point.
His arrest came amid widespread complaints of witchcraft and the use of evil spirits by rogue religious leaders.
Pastor Fanish Ramsey Maloba, 26, was arrested with a large black snake with brown patches by police officers who were on patrol at the Busia border, causing panic among residents.
According to police, the pastor claimed he had crossed to Uganda to offer prayers and cast away demons when the snake appeared from nowhere.
He captured it for use at his Apostles Ministries Church in Matayos.
The arrest comes after a similar incident in November last year, when a woman died in Murende Village in Matayos Sub-county after she was bitten by a preacher’s snake during a public exorcism session.
The deceased, Margaret Agutu, along with other neighbours, had gathered to witness the supposed miracle during a 'prayer session' by a rogue pastor who was allegedly conducting rituals using occult materials.
She was bitten on the finger by the pastor’s snake and died while being rushed to the hospital. The pastor fled the scene with his snake after her condition deteriorated.
In another incident, a preacher in Lumakanda, Kakamega County, was attacked by a venomous snake when he attempted to chase away evil spirits at Bendera Village amid numerous complaints of witchcraft in the area.
Busia County Police Commander (CPC) Mr Ahmed Abdille said the pastor was arrested at the Malenya border. The pen was handed over to officers from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), who took it away for safety.
“We are holding the suspect for having a live snake without a valid permit from the KWS, and investigations have been launched to determine what the snake was meant for. We are also investigating whether he was smuggling the reptile into the country for sale,” said Mr Abdille.
The pastor is said to have been on a mission to bring the snake back to Kenya, allegedly for a spiritual cleansing ritual.
According to police, Mr Maloba, who runs a church at Matayos Trading Center, claimed the Holy Spirit had led him to capture the reptile for use in dismantling witchcraft.
“He is currently in custody at Mayenje Police Station awaiting arraignment in court on charges related to illegal possession and transportation of wildlife,” Mr Abdille added.
In spiritual contexts, snakes are often seen as symbols of transformation, rebirth, and the cyclical nature of life.
They represent the shedding of old skin, mirroring the process of personal growth and the release of limiting beliefs or behaviours, and can be associated with wisdom, intuition, and the power to navigate different realms.
Some religious leaders use snakes to lure their followers into believing that their lives will be renewed and their desires achieved if they believe in prayers performed through the snake.
The string of strange incidents has sparked public suspicion over the legitimacy of some of these ‘spiritual miracles,’ with many locals now questioning whether some preachers are smuggling snakes in advance to stage deliverance performances.
It is also claimed that before these preachers arrive in villages, they send agents to plant sorcery objects in targeted homesteads, which the preacher then pretends to “uproot and cast out.”
