Authorities in Busia County, Kenya, have apprehended a 26-year-old pastor after he was found in possession of a live snake without authorization from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). The unusual event occurred near the Kenya-Uganda border.
The arrest, which took place on Sunday, May 4, 2025, was made by officers at the Mayenje Police Post who were stationed at the Malenya border crossing. The suspect, identified as Fanish Ramsey Maloba, was reportedly carrying a black bag that concealed a live snake measuring roughly two meters in length. The snake had a distinctive black and brown pattern.
Maloba, who resides in Matayos Sub-County, claimed that the snake appeared during a church service and that he intended to bring it to Apostle Ministries Church in Matayos for prayers.
Police immediately contacted KWS personnel, who arrived at the scene along with detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and officers from Busia Police Station. The snake was subsequently transferred to KWS custody for proper handling.
