Three people have been charged at the Bondo Law Courts in Siaya County over the alleged unlawful management of an unregistered religious society and offences involving three minors, including claims that children suffered severe burns during a purported exorcism ritual.
The accused are Gaudencia Juma Otieno, alias Church Mother; Stephen Omondi Otieno, alias Pastor; and Clinton Owour Obudho, alias Deacon Daudi, who appeared before Resident Magistrate Chepchirchir Christabel Maiyo to face the charges.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the three were charged with unlawfully managing St. Abraham Israel Assemblies of God Church, also known as St. Abraham Sayuni, situated in Ogago Village, Barkowino Sub-location, Bondo Sub-county.
The alleged offence took place on October 4, 2026, with the prosecution accusing the trio of operating the society without registration or exemption, contrary to Section 5 as read with Section 4(1) of the Societies Act, Cap. 108 of the Laws of Kenya.
Prosecution Counsel Edwin Nyakundi presented the case against the accused, who denied the charges before the court.
In addition to the society-related charge, Obudho faced separate counts of grievous harm, contrary to Section 234 of the Penal Code, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to Section 251.
The prosecution alleged that Obudho poured hot water on the minors under the guise of conducting an exorcism or “deliverance” ritual.
Two of the children were reportedly hospitalised with severe burns following the alleged incident. The circumstances surrounding the injuries formed part of the case presented before the court.
The court subsequently issued bond terms for the three accused persons. Otieno was granted a bond of KSh100,000, with an alternative cash bail of KSh50,000.
Omondi Otieno and Obudho were each granted a bond of KSh300,000, with the court declining to provide a cash bail alternative for the two.
The case highlights allegations involving the safety of minors within a religious setting, alongside questions surrounding compliance with the legal requirements governing the registration and operation of societies in Kenya.
The accused persons denied the charges, and the allegations remain subject to determination through the court process.
