Authorities in Bondo Sub-County have ordered the indefinite closure of a church following reports that four children were allegedly burned with boiling water during a religious cleansing ritual.
Four people have been arrested as investigations into the incident continue.
The case came to the attention of authorities on Thursday after a teacher reported a child who had sustained severe burns, prompting a multi-agency team to investigate the circumstances surrounding the injuries.
Preliminary investigations linked the incident to a ritual conducted at the church on Sunday, during which children were allegedly washed with boiling water referred to as “Michael” in an attempt to cast out evil spirits.
Osoi Stephen, the Assistant County Commissioner for Maranda Division, confirmed the arrests and condemned the alleged treatment of the children, saying such incidents should never occur again.
Stephen warned churches and religious leaders against practices that endanger children.
“Churches are places not meant to kill our people; they are places of worship. Don't turn them into slaughterhouses”, he said
He added that the church would remain closed as investigations continued and authorities pursued the case.
Bondo Sub-County Children’s Officer Beatrice Auma said the child who was rescued had been taken to a local hospital for emergency treatment.
Auma said her office would move to court to obtain care and protection orders to safeguard the child’s welfare.
Authorities are also searching for three other children believed to have sustained burns during the same incident but whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Two of the children are reportedly from Usigu Sub-County, while the third is from Migwena.
Officials have appealed to their families to bring them forward for medical attention and an assessment of their safety.
“We are appealing to the mothers who went with their children after the incidents to avail them for treatment and care”, she said.
The mother of a five-year-old child who was allegedly injured said the child’s skin began peeling shortly after the child was washed with hot water at the church altar.
She alleged that the deacon involved had initially promised to meet the medical expenses but later stopped responding to her communications.
“At first I didn't know that my child was going to be washed with hot water, because the deacon had said they were removing evil spirits from her; it's only when the child came running to me that I realised her back was burnt”.
Investigations and the search for the missing children are ongoing as authorities work to establish the circumstances of the incident and determine the appropriate charges against the suspects.
