Holy Ghost Coptic Church founder Father John Juma Pesa has died, marking the end of the life of one of Kenya’s most controversial religious figures.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Sources privy to the information indicate that Pesa died on Thursday, May 28, while receiving treatment at a hospital in Kisumu County. However, the main cause of his death is yet to be established.

Following his death, his body was later moved to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) mortuary for preservation, awaiting postmortem.

Pesa came into light in the 1970s after he was reportedly banished from the Roman Catholic Church and decided to establish the Holy Ghost Coptic Church along the Kisumu-Kakamega Highway.

📌 What You Need to Know

He became popular following his controversial spiritual healing practices that attracted followers from different parts of the country seeking divine intervention for illnesses, mental health conditions, and personal challenges.

The preacher’s church in Kisumu frequently came under investigation by police and human rights groups over allegations of illegal confinement and mistreatment of vulnerable followers.

In 2023, police officers and officials from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) raided the church compound and rescued several people held inside locked rooms.

Some of those found at the church were believed to be mentally ill patients whose relatives had taken them to the church for spiritual healing instead of seeking medical treatment.

Despite the controversies surrounding his ministry, Pesa retained a loyal following, with supporters describing him as a misunderstood spiritual leader unfairly targeted.

In 2020, Pesa also claimed that his life was in danger after visiting then-Deputy President William Ruto, who is now the current Head of State, at his Sugoi home in Uasin Gishu County.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke