Even before the dust settles on the Shakahola Massacre that cost lives of hundreds of Christians, another church with extreme teachings and beliefs has surfaced. This round in Nyanza Region.

Melkio Joseph Mission Messiah Church in Opapo in  Rongo, Migori County is on the spotlight following the death of two of its congregants in one week. The deceased confined themselves in the church seeking healing instead of visiting a hospital.

Earlier this week, relatives of one of the deceased sought help from the police to retrieve the body of their kin, whose burial plans were underway within the church premises. It was at this point that it was discovered that 57 ailing people were within the church compound and were also seeking healing from their ‘Father’.

“We came after receiving that there are sick and injured people in this Church,”Rongo Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner George Matundura  told reporters.

Here are facts about the controversial church.

1.The Sick don’t go to hospital because of their ‘strong’ religious beliefs.

Some of the church members have defended their church saying that they asked the sick and those who injured whether they can be taken to hospital. They however declined, saying that their ‘Father’ would heal them.

“They were asked whether they should be taken to hospital but they said their faith is enough and if its death God knows that is their way to heaven, do you want us to force someone who has held tightly to their faith? We have followed the law and human rights, we can’t bury someone without their relatives knowing,” a church member said.

The frail looking 57 also declined to be taken to hospital by the police and only resolved to chanting religious songs.

2.Dead bodies are not taken to mortuary

According to deceased’s relative, when they sought their brother’s body so that it can be preserved in the mortuary ahead of burial plans, the church declined saying its against their norms.

““The brother was dead, and he was laid in a certain room. When we actually pleaded with them so that we can take the body to the morgue, they refused saying it’s against their norm,” the deceased’s brother told the media.

3.Burial is conducted in the church

It has emerged that many people have been buried in the church grounds. Their number and cause of deaths still remain a mystery.

The deceased eldest daughter Jecinta Nyanchweo told the media that her father didn’t want to buried away from the church.

“The police officers requested him to be taken to hospital but he did not accept he said that he has strong faith, he will be okay, his God will heal him. He called me and told me, ‘My child, we are here with you, protect my body from outsiders, don’t let my brothers come and take my body outside this compound,” she said.

Members of the church claim that they reported all deaths to the police and were issued with burial permits.

A police officer, was also discovered under the church grounds last month with the circumstances surrounding his death remaining unclear.

4.Followers seek blessings at the burial site

The founders of the denomination have been buried in the church and their burial site is considered a sacred ground by congregants.  The congregants seek blessings from the church.

5. The church has shrines and congested living quarters

Videos and photos shared online show shrines that had been covered with colourful cloths. The cloths had crosses. The rooms also had well arranged photos of people believed to be significant in the church.

“We found our brother in a lonely premise, I don’t know if it is their morgue,” a relative said.

6. The Church has been in existence since 1970s

The church and their legal team have not taken the fight lying down. They have moved to court seeking justice, following the recent events and disruption of their activities.

“We are moving to court to challenge the order by Rongo Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner George Matundura barring 57 members of Melkio Joseph Mission Messiah Church from returning to their place of worship

“The church has existed since the 1970s. For some, it’s the only place they’ve ever known—where does he expect them to go? Their belongings are still inside the church,” the church’s legal representative Benard Acholla, said.