A Nigerian pastor is among the people who have been questioned over the spread of occultism in Nairobi.

The pastor of Winners Chapel is said to be among clerics who are luring vulnerable Kenyans into cultism.

Officers handling the probe said they have lined up at least 10 other foreigners for grilling.

Their churches have apparently been leading some members into dangerous occult practices.

Other sources said the government had deported at least 20 other foreigners, most of them Nigerians, who got work permits to work as clerics. This was after they were also linked to occult practices.

A team of detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters is now leading the probe.

They have, in the meantime, recommended a multi-agency approach to address the issue because of its complexity and the beliefs involved.

Other officials also want Interior ministry to come up with a well-crafted national strategy to address the menace of occultism because some may take it as an infringement of the suspects’ rights.

Unusual characteristics

Based on reported cases, the police have mapped parts of Nairobi, Embu, Kitui and Kericho as being notorious for occultism.

Police investigations have shown deep-rooted occultism where individuals exhibit unusual characteristics or kill for promotion.

This followed the macabre murder of Catholic priest Fr Michael Kyengo in Embu on October 9 in a ritual that was meant to enable the killers be promoted or recognised in a cult.

Issued warning

The police have in the past issued a warning about a group called the Young Blud Saints, which targets university students in Nairobi.

Officials say its members are required to sacrifice what they love most to prove their loyalty to the organisation.

DCI boss George Kinoti has warned about rising cases of cultism.

Speaking in Kericho, Mr Kinoti said the police had documented incidents where people were forced to present some human body parts so they could be allowed to join a perceived powerful cult that promises money and fame.

“Until we proscribe these groups, which remain secrets to us, we have to be proactive for now. Unfortunately, we are now dealing with killings that have happened,” he said.

Kinoti cited the death of Ferdinand Ongeri, who was the Kenya National Union of Nurses Kisumu branch deputy secretary-general in July, this year, saying their probe had led them to cultism.

Ongeri’s body was found in a forest in Nandi long after he had been reported missing.

An autopsy on his body indicated he died from excessive bleeding.

According to investigations, Ongeri travelled to Kitui where he met a Kenyan and two foreigners.

He went missing and his body was later found in the forest with his throat slit, neck broken and mouth cut.