Police Rescue 31 People from Home of Suspected Cult Leader in Nakuru

Police in Nakuru are detaining a 62-year-old woman suspected to be the leader of a religious cult. 

Hellen Wanjiru Weri was arrested on Saturday in Kihingo area of Njoro after police found 31 people believed to be members of her Army Rurwama ‘cult’ confined to a house for fellowship, fasting and prayers.

Police said the worshippers, who were confined in a house at Kamwene 'B', appeared weak and hungry after fasting for nearly a week.

Wanjiru, who is said to be the spiritual leader of Army Rurwama, was apprehended following a report by a resident of Moi's Bridge in Uasin Gishu County.

The 66-year-old informer said her daughter, who had secured a job as a community health nurse at a local dispensary, refused to report to work and instead traveled to Njoro for prayers and fasting.

She told police that her 35-year-old daughter had been locked up at Wanjiru’s house for several days, without food.

“Officers found the members [of the group] confined to one house belonging to Ms Wanjiru. She runs an unregistered suspected cult church known as Army Rurwama. The scene was visited. All were rescued and taken to Njoro police station for further investigations,” reads a police report.

Among those rescued were 14 adults aged between 23 and 64 years as well as 17 minors aged between two and 15 years. Those rescued are from Kisumu, Kitale, Ndeffo, Mau Narok, Ol Kalou, Molo and Subukia.

 “They confirmed to us that they were there for prayers though the place is not a registered church. They describe her astheir spiritual mother. With recent reports of cults in the country, we decided to conduct further investigations,” Njoro Deputy County Commissioner David Mbevi said.