Graves found at church of controversial Kisumu preacher John Pesa

A multi-agency security team on Friday discovered graveyards at a church in Kisumu suspected to have been forcefully holding mentally ill people captive.

The team, comprising of DCI detectives, ODPP officials and Kisumu County Public Health Officers, raided controversial preacher John Pesa's Holy Ghost Coptic Church in Kisumu following reports that some of the aforesaid persons might have died and been buried on the premises.

A Kisumu court green lit the operation which led to the rescue of three sickly persons found on the grounds.

"This follows a court order that granted the investigating agency authorization to undertake the exercise after several complaints that people with mental challenges were being illegally held within the church premises and suspicion that some may have died and been irregularly buried on the church grounds," the ODPP said in a statement.

"During the operation, two (2) grave-like spots were discovered on the grounds behind the church, and three suspected sick victims were rescued and taken to the hospital for medical assessment and treatment."