Thousands of Dini ya Roho Mafuta Pole Africa followers gathered in Kolowa, Baringo County, to mark the 73rd anniversary of the Kolowa Massacre.

Arranged in rows, church leaders in white gowns with blue stripes and choir members in green, white, and yellow uniforms sang and danced to beautiful songs.

At 2 p.m. sharp, churchgoers flocked to Lucas Pkiech’s tomb, marking the start of the war. The congregation surrounded the tomb pillar, led by their church leader, Apostle Arist Kapel.

They applauded as Aristi sprinkled holy blessed water around the tomb while holding a cow horn.

Lucas Pkech and over 500 other Mafuta Pole believers were killed on April 24, 1950, at Kolowo, where they had gathered to preach the word of God, only to be killed by the colonial government, who mistook them for waging war.

Religious leader Lucas Pkech of West Pokot County led over 1,000 congregants from the two counties who were misidentified as opponents by the colonialists.

According to Apostle Aristi Kapel, a fight broke out, resulting in the deaths of many innocent people while defending themselves with spears against the government, which had guns. Four government officers, including district officers, were killed.