Snake in pastor's bag causes panic at police station in Bungoma

Panic gripped Bungoma Police station on Tuesday evening after a snake slithered from a suspect’s gunny bag at the station.

Police officers and a section of residents who thronged the station to witness the bizarre incident scampered for safety as the reptile slithered around.

The officers had earlier arrested two individuals with the luggage, which contained the reptile. The two men, identified as a pastor and a member of his church, are currently being detained at the police station for allegedly transporting snakes from  Matungu Sub-county in Kakamega to Bukembe in Bungoma without a valid permit from the Kenya Wildlife Service(KWS).

According to Reuben Atsena, who claims to be a pastor of Galilaya church ministries, he trapped the snake at a home in Matungu constituency, where he had gone to pray and they intended to burn the snake after conducting some prayers at their church at Bukembe, in Bungoma County.

“I prayed for the man as he had requested but the spirit showed me there were witchcraft paraphernalia hidden in his mattress. And at the corner of the house, I found a big snake, which I carried. They gave me Sh500 as tithe and promised to throw a thanksgiving ceremony when the work is completed,” he said.

The self-proclaimed man of God was categorical that he offered private prayers.

“I was not with church members. I always pray for people, but I have never come across such things,” he noted.

Residents who thronged the police station said the snake was big and long and looked like a black Mamba.