Nairobi,Jan 21 (TopNews) – The family of 31-year-old Bernard Otieno Anah is demanding answers and justice following his alleged beating to death by a pastor and members of a Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church in Homa Bay County.
The incident unfolded on December 21, 2023, in Kagan village during the West Kenya Union Conference Pathfinder Camporee.
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Anah was accused of stealing 8kg of maize and beans valued at about Ksh.2,000 from Rabondo SDA church. On the said day, the church pastor, accompanied by his congregation and the local assistant chief, reportedly raided Anah’s home.
They forcefully took him to the church, where he endured a severe beating until he lost consciousness. Later, he was taken to a nearby marketplace, where he lost his life.
The deceased’s wife shared the traumatic experience, underscoring the family’s call for justice for her late husband. Anah was laid to rest on January 18, 2024, at his home. Family members, led by his cousin Dr. Davji Atellah, Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU), pledged to relentlessly pursue justice.
Dr. Atellah strongly criticized the act of mob justice by church members, emphasizing its grave consequences and the perpetuation of violence in communities.
He emphasized the pivotal role of church leaders in fostering an environment of justice and harmony, stating, “There is no evidence to suggest that mob injustice perpetrated by the church members effectively minimizes crimes in our villages. On the contrary, it perpetuates a cycle of violence and destruction.”
“We strongly believe that our church leaders play a pivotal role in spreading messages of hope, protecting their buildings and places of worship, and fostering an environment of justice and harmony, not a place where any suspect is sent to heaven before their time. Additionally, local chiefs are tasked with restoring order and ensuring that our communities coexist peacefully.”
“As we mourn Anah and bury him, we want to notify the authorities and those involved in the killing that we will pursue transformative justice. We will bring the accusers to the law and take the law to the community. Justice to Anah is justice to his wife, children, parents, and neighbors.”