Police in Mombasa County have rescued 20 children and detained seven adults suspected of being part of a religious extremist group operating under the Zion Fire Anointing Ministries Church in Changamwe.
Changamwe Police Commander Patrick Gogo said the Monday raid followed a tip-off from a woman who escaped the church with her children and alerted authorities. The suspects were found confined inside the church, living in poor and unhygienic conditions.
“When we entered, we found the women and children sleeping on the floor, which was very dangerous considering the high risk of malaria in Mombasa,” Gogo stated, adding that the children appeared weak and vulnerable.
Police have launched a manhunt for the church owner, who remains at large, as investigations continue to determine whether other victims are being held elsewhere.
This incident adds to the growing list of religious extremism cases under police investigation. In April, a similar raid in Migori County led to the rescue of 57 people and the discovery of two bodies inside the St. Joseph Mission of Africa Church, in what authorities described as a suspected cult operation.
