Kisumu — The Senate Adhoc committee investigating the proliferation of religious organizations on Saturday evening raided a church in Kisumu and rescued 8 people who were being offered prayers.

The committee led by its chair lady Nominated Senator Shakila Mohammed raided Holy Ghost Coptic Church in the outskirts of Kisumu city.

Armed with heavy security officers, the committee members made their way into the church run by the controversial Archbishop Father John Pesa.

"We have managed to rescue 8 patients from this church, never again will we have another Shakahola in this country," said the Senator.

Those rescued were taken to Kisumu county hospital , psychiatric section to receive medical attention.

Shakila noted that the church had no license to keep sick people in his church promising that police officers will continue to comb the church to get rid of any patient detained for prayers at the church.

"The committee has made it clear to Father Pesa that the church is not an hospital to keep patients, let them come for prayers and head home thereafter," she said.

Addressing the media after the raid, Shakila said the environment in which the patients were held was deplorable and unacceptable.

"The state is terrible, this is a prison, the patients are chained, given food once a day. They even have a bucket for short and long calls," she noted.

Father Pesa was charged in February this year with detaining patients at his church, court however dismissed the case due to lack of evidence and released him.

In his defense, Father Pesa argued that his church doesn't scout for patients but family members always drop patients suffering from mental cases to his church for prayers.

The activity at the church dates back to 1980s and the law has been unable to reign into the church activities, with endless court cases.

The Senate Adhoc Committee had been in western Kenya to listen to submissions by different stakeholders on how best to deal with harmful religious activities.