Pastor Arrested After Church Members Die Climbing 'Tree Of Life'

Police officers have arrested Abel Kahindi Gandi, the pastor of New Foundation Church in Chakama, Magarini, Kilifi County, after some of his church members died during bizarre tree-climbing rituals.

Kilifi North Deputy County Commissioner Samuel Mutisya confirmed the arrest. Reports say the pastor told his followers to climb a so-called “tree of life,” claiming it would bring them healing and freedom.

"After questioning him, we were shocked to learn that he conducts his ministry without using the Bible. He places his belief in the Tree of Life. The believers who come here are possessed, and they believe that if they climb the tree, they get healed," Mutisya said.

Gandi claims that climbing down the tree represents a form of spiritual cleansing and a way to break free from struggles like sickness and poverty.

Photo of a cross on top of a church. /iSTOCK

However, according to Mutisya, locals reported multiple deaths linked to the ‘Tree of Life’ ritual. He has since ordered the church to be shut down immediately.

The pastor is currently in custody at Malindi Police Station and has denied any responsibility for the deaths.

“These allegations are false. I have not killed anyone. I do work as God has instructed me. That tree is the Tree of Life. The people who came here were possessed by the evil spirits.

"When they climb the tree, the spirits leave them. I have welcomed the government to investigate thoroughly — they will find the truth,” the pastor said.

"There is one who came here, slept, and died the next day before I even got to the church. I was in Malindi when the incident happened. I have never prayed for someone, and they died right there,” he clarified the death case.

This has now raised concerns regarding the proliferation of rogue churches and pastors subjecting their members to bizarre, life-threatening rituals.

On April 24, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen unveiled fresh proposals aimed at tightening oversight of church operations, in a bid to crack down on the growing number of rogue religious leaders.

The announcement follows a disturbing incident in Rongo, where 57 people were rescued by police after being found locked inside a church.

Speaking to the media on Thursday morning, Murkomen revealed that a task force formed by President William Ruto in 2023 has already drafted actionable recommendations. The group was mandated to review the existing laws regulating religious institutions and suggest reforms to curb religious extremism and close legal loopholes.

Murkomen stated that one of the key proposals put forward by the 15-member task force, chaired by former Mbeere South MP Mutava Musyimi, involves implementing stricter regulations on how churches operate.

He added that the recommendations have already been submitted to the cabinet committee for review, and will later be presented to the full cabinet and Parliament for final approval.

"This is something that we must deal with. The task force appointed by the President, which is led by Mutava Musyimi, has come up with a raft of recommendations, including registration for churches," Murkomen said.

"The report has already been forwarded to the committee in the cabinet, after which it will be forwarded to the cabinet plenary, where it will be discussed and approved before finally being forwarded to the National Assembly."

The church, Melkio St Joseph’s Missions of Messiah Church in Opapo-Rongo Town, was shut down indefinitely after a wave of disturbing incidents and public backlash over mysterious deaths and illegal burials linked to the church.