The Pastor and the Python

It is hard today to miss the signs of Easter today. Lily plants abound, bakeries are making egg shaped cuppy cakes. And if you are Christian as I am, you are also thinking about it. I believe that is why today's article in the Nation is particularly delicious. Where else could you get a story about a minister traveling with a python? I couldn't have made up a better Easter Story.
This is definitely one of the reasons I truly get a bang out of going to Kenya. While others might either be frightened, offended, or disgusted, I find it tickles me. Where else do pastors carry snakes in their bag? (Well, maybe parts of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana). However, I doubt they get on a crowded bus with their python. Evidently the locals were a bit pissed,I think more because it indicated witchcraft rather than the fact that she was carrying the poisonous snake. However, I just couldn't keep the article from you.
So without further ado, today's article in the Nation.

Keep the faith y'all

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By TOM MATOKE Posted Friday, April 10 2009 at 18:48

A cleric on Friday escaped lynching in Kapsabet after a snake slithered from a bag containing her Bible and other religious literature. The African Divine Church pastor is said to have been travelling to Nakuru for an Easter crusade.

Gave chase

However, when changing vehicles in Kapsabet and as touts jostled for her bag, a huge python slithered out.

Realising the danger she was in, the pastor, who is about 50 years old, took to her heels with the crowd in hot pursuit. And as the angry mob gave chase, others killed the snake. They then set her bag, uniforms, religious books and the Bible on fire.

Businesspeople at the bus park closed their premises and joined the mob in searching for the pastor but she had vanished.

The morning incident created pandemonium as travellers, drivers and touts demanded that luggage belonging to other travellers be searched. Transport services resumed hours later but the travellers complained about the unexpected delay.

A shocked traveller, Mr John Arumasi said he was now scared of sitting next to people with huge bags in a bus. He said it was weird for a pastor to carry a snake in her bag, adding that witches were now hiding in churches. “People should not preach water and drink wine in the name of God,” Mr Arumasi said.

Area head of police James Mugera said the incident had not been reported to the station but the matter would be investigated.

Bad shape

“No one has reported such an incident but we will investigate,” he said

Mr Mugera has appealed to drivers to avoid speeding. His call came as drivers plying the Kapsabet-Eldoret road urged the government to improve the road, saying it was in bad shape.

They complained that the government had promised to start work on the road in February but nothing had been done so far.