Pastor with a Snake at the Border: Pastor’s Demonic Encounter Sparks Fear, Fascination, and Folklore
In a bizarre incident that has sent shockwaves through Busia County, a Gen Z pastor was intercepted at the Kenya-Uganda border carrying an unexpected—and unnerving—companion: a live snake.
Police officers stationed at the Mayenje Police Post, who were conducting routine border patrols at the Malenya crossing point, became suspicious when they noticed a man clutching a tightly fastened black bag with unusual care. When questioned, the man—later identified as 26-year-old Fanish Ramsey Maloba—hesitated before finally revealing the contents of his bag: a two-meter-long, black and brown snake, very much alive.
Maloba, a resident of Matayos Sub-County, is not your average border crosser. He is a pastor affiliated with the Apostle Ministries Church in Matayos. His explanation for carrying the reptile? According to him, the snake appeared “mysteriously” during a spiritual session in which he was casting out demons. He claimed to have subdued and bagged the serpent in the aftermath of the exorcism, intending to bring it back to his church for what he called “further prayers.”
The claim raised eyebrows—not just among police, but among local residents and spiritual leaders alike.
Authorities immediately contacted the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), who arrived at the scene accompanied by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and officers from the Busia Police Station. The snake was safely retrieved and transferred into KWS custody. Pastor Maloba, however, was taken into police custody and is now under investigation for possessing wildlife without a valid permit.
But the incident has left behind more questions than answers.
A Pastor, a Snake, and a Storm of Symbolism
To many, the sight of a pastor holding a live snake is jarring, unsettling—even disturbing. Snakes have long been enmeshed in complex spiritual and religious symbolism, both feared and revered across cultures and belief systems. That a religious leader—entrusted with guiding the faithful—should be entangled in such an occurrence only intensifies the controversy.
“It’s ironic, really,” said a local elder. “Pastors are seen as symbols of purity and guidance, yet here we have one literally carrying what many would consider a symbol of evil.”
The incident has reignited longstanding debates about the spiritual significance of snakes, especially in African communities where they are frequently linked to witchcraft, omens, and the supernatural.
Snakes in Christianity: A Serpent in the Garden
In Christian theology—the faith tradition Pastor Maloba represents—the snake is perhaps most notoriously known from the Book of Genesis. In the biblical account of creation, it is the serpent who tempts Eve into eating the forbidden fruit, leading to the fall of man. Since then, the snake has been tightly associated with deception, sin, and the devil himself.
The New Testament reinforces this image in several passages where serpents are used metaphorically to represent cunning and evil. Christian iconography frequently depicts saints trampling serpents underfoot—symbolic victories over sin and darkness.
Given this deeply ingrained symbolism, a pastor associating himself with a snake—regardless of his explanation—has struck a nerve.
Beyond the Bible: Snakes as Symbols of Power and Transformation
Yet outside of mainstream Christianity, snakes carry vastly different meanings. In African spirituality, witchcraft, and even modern neopagan practices, the snake is often seen as a symbol of transformation, power, healing, and spiritual awakening.https://shorturl.at/5gpXa
One of the most widely respected symbolic aspects of snakes is their ability to shed their skin. This natural process has been interpreted for millennia as a sign of rebirth and renewal—a shedding of the old to make way for the new. Among traditional healers and practitioners of witchcraft, snakes are often invoked to symbolize wisdom, grounding, or primal energy.
In certain forms of African traditional religion, snakes are believed to be messengers of the spirit world, acting as intermediaries between the human and the divine. To followers of these belief systems, encountering a snake—particularly during a spiritual ritual—may not signify evil, but rather a call to deeper insight or a spiritual trial.
In modern-day spiritualism and some branches of witchcraft, the snake may even be viewed as a guardian or guide. For example, in Hedge Witchcraft or Green Witchcraft, snakes represent the cycle of life, the rhythms of nature, and ancient wisdom.
The Ouroboros and Pagan Mysticism
In pagan traditions, particularly among those following Earth-based spiritual paths, the snake takes on even broader symbolic dimensions. One of the most enduring symbols is the Ouroboros—a serpent eating its own tail. This powerful image represents the eternal cycle of life and death, creation and destruction, beginning and end. It’s a reminder of the interconnectedness of all things and the cyclical nature of existence.
Pagans often honor snakes as sacred guardians of hidden knowledge, particularly knowledge tied to the natural world. In some ancient Druidic beliefs, snakes were considered the embodiment of nature’s secret forces, and rituals involving snakes were believed to unlock the mysteries of the earth.
So What Really Happened in Busia?
Was Pastor Maloba’s encounter truly a case of spiritual warfare, or something more theatrical? Was the snake a random animal, or a prop in a misguided attempt to draw attention or gain spiritual credibility?
As the investigation continues, many in Busia remain skeptical. “There’s more to this than meets the eye,” said one local resident. “Even if the snake did appear during prayers, what kind of prayers was he doing? What powers was he invoking?”
Others believe this could be a teachable moment about the dangers of spiritual sensationalism. As churches continue to grow in number, especially in rural and peri-urban parts of Kenya, so too has the competition for congregants. This has led to increasingly theatrical, controversial, and sometimes dangerous stunts by so-called prophets and miracle workers.
Whatever the truth behind the bagged serpent, this incident serves as a reminder of how deeply symbols like the snake are embedded in our cultural, religious, and psychological landscapes. Whether viewed as a demon, a healer, or a harbinger of transformation, the snake continues to slither through our collective imagination—feared, revered, and never ignored.https://touchdigitalnews.com/a-wave-of-terror-in-msambweni/