In the village of Getare, Kisii County, southwestern Kenya, crowds gathered over the weekend following claims by a local woman that an apparition of the Virgin Mary appeared on the soot-covered wall of her kitchen. Mary Onsomni said she noticed the image forming on Friday while preparing a meal by a charcoal stove, describing the shape as resembling a woman in a long veil with hands clasped in prayer—an image she identified as the Blessed Virgin.
News of the vision spread rapidly through social media and local word of mouth, drawing pilgrims from neighboring areas, including Homa Bay near Lake Victoria and Sirare close to the Tanzanian border. By the time her husband, Charles Onsomni, returned from a 400-mile trip to Mombasa on Saturday evening, a large crowd had assembled outside their home, eager to witness the phenomenon.
Witness accounts varied, with some locals reporting a clear resemblance to the Virgin Mary, while others saw only a black smudge on the mud-brick kitchen wall. Brian Nyang’a, a resident who claimed to have seen the image, expressed his belief in its authenticity. Meanwhile, many visitors and passing clergy turned the site into an impromptu place of worship, with pastors leading sermons and school choirs performing on Sunday. The crowds peaked at several thousand people, traveling by motorcycles, taxis, and buses to visit the site.
Despite the growing attention, Charles Onsomni expressed skepticism, suggesting the image might have been a mistaken perception. He also contested the widely circulated clear, vivid image of the apparition online, saying it was likely an artificially generated or edited picture. Police were called to maintain order due to the swelling number of visitors.
On Sunday night, overwhelmed by the ongoing influx of pilgrims, Onsomni destroyed the standalone kitchen building with a hoe, reducing it to rubble. Subsequently, he reportedly warned trespassers against entering the property, brandishing a machete in an effort to deter further gatherings. The crowds diminished over the following days but left a lingering debate in the community.
Local Catholic leaders advised caution regarding the reported apparition, noting that similar claims of visions of the Virgin Mary have occurred in the Kisii area before. While some believers held out hope for a renewed appearance, others criticized Onsomni’s forceful reaction. A comment on social media reflected popular sentiment, suggesting the household had missed a potential opportunity for financial gain.
The incident highlights the enduring power of religious imagery within local communities, even as skepticism and tensions emerge amid such spontaneous events.