A 26-year-old man, Fanish Ramsey Maloba, was arrested on Monday in Malenya, Matayos sub-county, after authorities discovered a live snake in his possession.
The arrest happened after officers from Mayenje police post, who were monitoring the area, stopped Maloba for a routine check. Inside a black bag he was carrying, they found a snake around two metres long, displaying a black and brown pattern. He had no documentation allowing him to have such an animal.
Police say Maloba, a resident of Matayos, claimed he had recently traveled to Uganda for spiritual purposes. During a session of prayer, he said, the snake appeared suddenly. Believing it to be connected to spiritual forces, he decided to bring it back to his church Apostle Ministries in Matayos for further prayer and deliverance.
Authorities contacted the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), who responded alongside officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Busia. The team visited the location, gathered evidence, and took custody of the snake.
KWS officials have since secured the reptile, and Maloba remains in police custody as investigations continue. Possessing wildlife without the proper license is a prosecutable offense under Kenyan law.
