Dini ya Roho Mafuta Pole Africa faithful commemorate 73rd Kolowa massacre anniversary
Thousands of Dini ya Roho Mafuta Pole Africa faithful gathered in Kolowa, Baringo County on Monday to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the Kolowa Massacre. A monument in memory of those who were killed was constructed at Kolowa.
Arranged in rows, church leaders in white gowns with blue stripes and choir members clad in different uniforms of green, white, and yellow sang and danced to beautiful songs.
At 2 pm sharp, the church followers thronged the tomb of Lucas Pkiech, signifying the time the war started. Led by their church leader, Apostle Arist Kapel, the congregants surrounded the pillar of the tomb. As Aristi held a horn of a cow, he sprinkled holy blessed water around the tomb, and they clapped. The followers knelt down and prayed and blessed those who were killed.
On April 24, 1950, Lucas Pkech and more than 500 other believers of Mafuta Pole lost their lives at Kolowo, where they had congregated to preach the word of God, only to be killed by the colonial government who thought they were making war. Religious leader Lucas Pkech from West Pokot County led over 1,000 congregants from the two counties who were mistaken by the colonialists as their opponents.
Apostle Aristi Kapel says a fight broke out that resulted in great loss of innocent lives in the process of defending themselves with spears against the government who had guns. Four government officers, including the district officers, lost their lives.
According to the General Secretary of the Church, Apostle Raisti Meskina Julius, the colonial government followed them with two lorries of government police from Nginyang and found them at Kolowo, where they were resting and taking meals.