Police Detain 20 Children, 7 Adults in Mombasa Religious Sect Raid
Police in Mombasa have rescued 20 children and detained seven adults linked to a suspected religious sect in Changamwe. The operation targeted the Zion Fire Anointing Ministries church, where the group was found isolated and living in deplorable conditions.
Suspected Sect Raided After Escapee Alerts Police
The raid on the Zion Fire Anointing Ministries followed a distress report from a woman who fled the church with her children on October 31, 2025. Acting on her tip, Changamwe Police Commander Patrick Gogo led officers into the premises on November 3.
Inside, they found all 27 individuals sleeping on bare floors with no mosquito nets. “The condition was very worrying,” Gogo said. “With Mombasa’s high mosquito density, the children were at extreme risk of malaria and other diseases.”
Ongoing Investigation Into Sect Leadership
Authorities have not yet arrested the church’s owner and are actively tracing their whereabouts. Police are also investigating whether more victims remain hidden elsewhere and whether the group engaged in coercive or extremist practices.
Pattern of Cult-Related Crackdowns
This case mirrors a similar April 2025 incident in Migori County, where police rescued 57 people and recovered two bodies from St Joseph Mission of Africa Church. Investigators found one victim dead in a prayer room. The killer wrapped the victim in a white robe. The body had facial injuries. Foam oozed from the victim’s mouth. Survivors reportedly resisted medical help, singing religious songs instead.
The Mombasa operation underscores growing concerns over unregulated religious groups operating as isolated, high-control communities. Police say they will continue monitoring such institutions to prevent abuse and child endangerment.
