Inside controversial Rongo church where worshippers are buried in 48 hours

 A gate and signboard of St. Joseph Missions of Messiah in Africa which was closed indefinitely after police raided the church and rescued 57 people. Among those rescued were sick and injured. Two people died within the church premises hours before the raid. (Photo by Anne Atieno)

St Joseph Missions of Messiah in Africa church in Rongo has been shut down by authorities following a police rescue of 57 worshippers allegedly living within the premises.

The church has all the markings of a cult, according to residents and authorities. Their leader is called Halleluhya-and so are all the other faithful.

This is not your ordinary church. Here, members are required to be buried within 48 hours-and within the church compound.

Yesterday, the church became the centre of attraction again after police stormed the premises and rescued dozens. This came as reports emerged that the church was preparing to bury two of its members within the compound.

Among those rescued were individuals who were sick and receiving prayers for healing. Two others had reportedly died and were to be buried at the church before security agencies intervened.

Rongo Deputy County Commissioner George Matundura said the church had been shut down after investigations revealed it had adopted controversial teachings.

"We came and managed to rescue 57, where many of them were taken to hospital," Mr Matundura said.

He confirmed that investigations had been launched and noted that the cause of death of the two had not been established, pending post-mortem examinations.

Isaac Nyachie, a brother to one of the deceased, said that his brother, Elly Odoyo, died at the church on April 20. He claimed that prior to his death, Elly had separated from his wife of 20 years and moved into the church with his children.

Nyachie said his brother occasionally visited home, and they had raised concerns over the church and its doctrines. However, the deceased had dismissed their worries, insisting he would continue worshipping there.

"He insisted that this was a proper church that feared God. He has been here all these years," Nyachie said.

He added that whenever they visited, they were often blocked and told Elly had gone to the church's Seme branch.

"Getting him on the phone was very difficult. He used to reach us once in a while," he added.

According to Nyachie, they were only informed that Elly had been injured in a recent protest after his daughter called to say he was critically ill and wanted to speak to them.

"We didn't know about this. We just assumed he was at the Seme branch. His daughter only called us a few days ago to say he was very sick and wanted to talk to us."

The family travelled immediately, and by the time they reached Rodi at 5pm, Elly's daughter called again to say he had already passed away.

When they went to the church to collect his body and take it to the hospital, they were blocked by his children and fellow worshippers.

Family members were told to wait for a will allegedly written by Elly.

"They told us that my brother wrote a will saying that his body should not be preserved at any hospital and that he should be buried at the church-and that the same should apply to his children," said Nyachie.

He added that church members and Elly's daughter claimed that anyone who died at the church was not taken to a mortuary, but buried within 48 hours.

The church reportedly contacted an advocate, who told the family that nothing could proceed until he presented the will the following morning.

After hours of waiting, the family grew impatient and pleaded with the church to release the body, but eventually sought police intervention.

They claimed they were shocked to learn that police officers guarding the church were unaware of Elly's death.

One of the brothers remained behind to guard the body, fearing it would be buried in secret, while the rest proceeded to Rongo Police Station to seek help on Monday.

Police officers in a Land Cruiser moved to the church and forcefully took the body to Rosewood Mortuary. Officers had to fire shots in the air after worshippers tried to block them.

The family, who say they have not seen any will, are now pleading with the government to rescue Elly's three children from the church.

They also want the church investigated, saying the children have been brainwashed and no longer recognise them as family.

Odoyo's daughter, Jacinta Achieng, claimed her father, who succumbed to injuries sustained during protests earlier this month, had told her he wanted to be buried at the church.

"My father told me to call his relatives in Nyamira County so he could tell them his wish before he died. He told me to let them know he had drafted a will in case they arrived late," Ms Achieng said.

She claimed that her father's relatives came and took the body with police before the church's lawyer could present the will.

"They didn't even contact me. They came with force-as if they were more his relatives than I, his aggrieved child," she lamented.

Achieng insisted her father's body should be returned to the church and buried in the compound."I won't attend his burial if it's held outside the church," she said.

"My father told me not to let anyone remove him from the church and that he be buried according to his will. It's not fair that I should be haunted while they feel satisfied burying him elsewhere."

About two weeks ago, protestors stormed the church to exhume the body of a GSU officer buried within the compound on March 28, 2025. The protestors clashed with church members, pelting them with stones, and left several-including Odoyo-with injuries.

The church's leader, who only identified herself as Halleluhya, denied claims that members were barred from seeking medical treatment.

"We follow God's law and that of the government. When anything happens, we report it. We are here to worship, follow the law and hold to our faith," she said.

She insisted that the injured members refused hospital treatment of their own volition."They said their faith would heal them," she claimed.

Halleluhya said that burials at the church were lawful and carried out with burial permits.

"Those saying we conduct secret burials are lying. We cannot bury someone without informing their families, and we also follow the law. We acquired a burial permit for the GSU officer. We have it."

She added that they are aware church members have families and rights: "We cannot bury someone without informing their kin."

According to her, some members were buried at the church because they had wills, while others gave consent for relatives to be buried there. She also claimed that they always notified the area assistant chief when someone died at the church.