Rongo church closed for detaining patients seeks court redress, says no crime committed

Rongo sub county deputy county commissioner George Matundura ordered the closure of the church and directed church members who are currently detained at Rongo police station to select four people who are supposed to accompany the police to collect all their belongings from the church.

The closure came after the security officers raided the church and rescued 57 sick people who had been staying in the church seeking healing.

The deputy county commissioner ordered all the people who have been living in the church together with the church leadership to go back to their homes. 

He said the children who are complete orphans are going to be handed over to the children department that will get them safe places.

The decision taken by the deputy county commissioner has however been opposed by the church advocate Benard Achola who said that he is moving to the court to seek orders that can reverse the directive issued by the government.

"The DCC has made a unilateral decision that is closing down the church based on allegations. He had sent a public health officer to the church and none of the church members accompanied him to ascertain whether he visited the compound," said the lawyer. 

Achola said the government does not have specific reasons for closing the church that has existed for decades adding that the government is acting on allegations.

"There is no reason given by the DCC to warrant the closure of the church. We are thinking of ways of countering that," he added. 

The church advocate also indicated that the detention of the church members at Rongo police station is also unlawful because there is no tangible reason why they are being detained.