MOMBASA, KENYA – Police in Mombasa have rescued 27 individuals, including 20 children, from a church in Changamwe in a case of suspected religious extremism that has evoked the tragic memory of the Shakahola massacre. The operation took place on Monday, November 3, 2025, at the Zion Fire Anointing Ministries Church, according to multiple media reports citing local law enforcement.

Changamwe Sub-County Police Commander Patrick Gogo confirmed the details in a press briefing on Monday. He stated that the rescued group, comprising seven women and 20 children aged between two and fifteen, were found living in deplorable conditions. “The state in which we found them was worrying. Mothers were lying on the floor along with their children, using only sheets to cover their bodies,” Gogo said, highlighting the unsanitary and unsafe environment. The premises, which police noted were infested with mosquitoes, lacked basic amenities such as beds and proper bedding, exposing the children to the risk of malaria and other diseases.

The police raid was initiated after a woman and her three children managed to escape from the church on Friday, October 31, 2025, and alerted the authorities. This led to a police operation spanning Friday and the subsequent Monday, culminating in the rescue of the remaining individuals. Investigators found bags, luggage, and other personal belongings on the site, suggesting that the individuals had been living within the church premises for an extended period.

Denial of Education and Basic Rights

A primary concern for authorities is the welfare of the children, many of whom are of school-going age. Commander Gogo noted that the children had been pulled out of school and were being denied a formal education at a time when national examinations, including the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), were underway. “Some of the children are of school-going age and should be sitting for their Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), but they were locked away,” Gogo stated. In addition to education, police received reports that the children were also being denied access to medical care.

The rescued women and children were escorted to the Changamwe Police Station for processing and questioning as investigations commence. Authorities are currently profiling the individuals to understand the full scope of the church's activities and to determine the duration of their confinement. The specific nature of the suspected cultic practices remains under investigation. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.

Search for Church Leader Underway

Authorities have launched a manhunt for the leader of the Zion Fire Anointing Ministries Church, identified as Prophetess Betty Omollo, also known as Betty Kadori. Police have summoned the church’s leadership and pastors for questioning, but as of Tuesday morning, November 4, 2025, none had presented themselves to the authorities. An online blog associated with the church, which appears not to have been updated recently, describes Omollo as its founder and bishop, stating the ministry was established in 1999.

This incident has drawn sharp parallels with the Shakahola massacre of 2023, where hundreds of followers of the Good News International Ministries, led by Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, died from starvation and other forms of violence after being instructed to fast to “meet Jesus.” The Shakahola tragedy, which resulted in over 429 confirmed deaths, exposed significant lapses in the oversight of religious organizations in Kenya and prompted calls for stricter regulation. Commander Gogo explicitly referenced the Shakahola and Kwa Binzaro tragedies, urging the public to be cautious of extremist teachings.

The Mombasa rescue serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat of religious extremism in Kenya. It highlights the vulnerability of individuals, particularly women and children, to exploitation by charismatic leaders who operate outside mainstream religious oversight. As the investigation into the Zion Fire Anointing Ministries Church continues, questions regarding the state's ability to prevent such occurrences and protect its citizens from dangerous indoctrination are once again at the forefront of national discourse.