I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would want to keep a snake for a pet. I had a neighbour once who had a snake... But he was a Kenyan Cowboy so I guess he was an understandable case but with this case, I cannot help but be entirely creeped out. The creepy factor here is on level 1000!

A python and a dead chameleon were found in two pastors' bags in Mwakaleli village, Taita Taveta county.

Residents nearly lynched the two men of God who they accused of conning them of their money and property in the name of performing miracles and exorcising demons.

The pastors also had flour, sugar and tea leaves donated by grateful residents after they "successfully" removed demons and evil spirits from troubled homes.  Police officers saved the pastors from the residents' wrath.

One of the pastors, only known as Prophet Ibrahim, had come from Mombasa to help flush out witches from the region.  He managed to evade the police and is still at large.

Residents have accused the pastors of using the snake to dupe them into believing they have powers.   The pastors would camp at a home and say they had epiphanies and revelations of snakes.  

Snakes, chameleons and other crawling creatures are largely associated with witchcraft in Taita Taveta.  The pastors would recite some incantations and enter the house.  

Minutes later they would come out with a python.  The owners of the home paid the pastors and they would be told that there tribulations were over.   Resident Shem Mwarubi said: “It was purely by chance that someone noticed the slithery creature in the bag otherwise these people would still be robbing us blind."  The other pastor, Daudi Kafuta, who heads the Pentecostal World Mission Outreach in Werugha was arrested.  He said he did not know that there was a snake in the bag.

Kafuta said the python belonged to Ibrahim.   He said they had been invited by a family in distress at the village to perform miracles and get rid of bothersome spirits.  

“We have been making good progress in liberating the region from evil spirits until now,” Kafuta said.  Mwatate police boss Francis Mwangi yesterday said Kafuta had "perfected the art of fleecing residents".

  He said the police are still looking for Ibrahim who is allegedly hiding in Rong’e forest.  “We are certain we will get him,” Mwangi said.  The snake was handed over to the Kenya Wildlife Services and is now at the Tsavo East National Park.

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