Church members burn 13 year old girl, claim they were exorcising demons from her

Bishop George Okal of The Holy Spirit of Israel Church whose members are accused of burning a 13 year old girl on a mission to exorcising demons she was allegedly in possession. PHOTO BY MERCY KAHENDA

Police are interrogating three suspects who allegedly burnt a minor in Ponda Mali estate on the outskirts of Nakuru town, claiming they were exorcising demons from her.

The suspects were reportedly in a group of seven, all of whom are members of The Holy Spirit of Israel Church during the last Friday night incident.

County Police Commander Hassan Barua said four other suspects associated with the burning of the 13-year-old girl are still at large.

Mr. Barua said police officers are following leads to arrest the suspects, who are well known to the victim.

“Officers are following some leads to arrest the suspects, who have since gone into hiding. This is a criminal incident that cannot be accepted,” he said.

According to Bishop George Okal, some church members claimed the girl was possessed by demons and they wanted to help her heal.

The members had been invited by Beatrice Akinyi, the girl’s neighbor and a church member, to pray for her. “Beatrice, a member in my church, requested other members to go to the girl’s house for prayers but upon arriving, they said they wanted paraffin and a candle,” Bishop Okal explained.

He added that they bought paraffin for Sh10 and a candle. During the prayer session, a candle was lit and one member gargled the paraffin and spat on the girl’s face.

“One of the suspects gargled paraffin and during the prayer, she spat on the girl’s face and the candle that was nearby set the girl’s face on fire,” he said.

The bishop condemned the act, saying it is a criminal case and that all suspects should be arrested and charged for spoiling the church’s name.

After the incident, the members left the house silently, leaving the girl with severe burns to her face while the member who was holding the candle reportedly burnt her arm.

The bishop further dismissed allegations that Joseph Omondi, who is suspected to have impregnated the girl, is a pastor in the church.

The minor is undergoing treatment at the Rift Valley Provincial General hospital.