Patriarch who claims to be God

By Isaiah Lucheli

He stirs up controversy wherever he has tried to settle and he and his family are always on the run due to what he proclaims himself to be.

He believes he is the deity and the father of Jesus Christ. For this, he claims to have escaped countless attempts on his life.

Wanyonyi with his ‘holy’ sword and staff, with which he will punish evildoers. [PHOTOS: Titus Munala/Standard]

Meet ‘Jehovah Mungu Mwenye Enzi’ Wanyonyi, 92.

You might easily dismiss him for an insane man suffering from illusions but for the confidence he exudes when asserting that there is no other god but he.

He claims not to be human and came to the world just like his ‘son’ did more than 2,000 years ago. He will, therefore, not die as humans do.

In Wanyonyi’s homestead at Chemororoch location, Uasin Gishu District, are five small grass thatched houses. In the middle of the compound stands a red flag and a table on which is placed a sword.

He boasts 15 wives and over 60 children, who labour on people’s farms in order to earn a living and feed the old man whose advanced age does not allow him to work.

The sword and the flag, also red, are a sign that the end of the world is nigh. The sword will be used to punish the evil people of the world, Wanyonyi declares.

When we drove into the compound children, young men and women milled around the car inquiring about our mission.

A woman I later learn is referred to as ‘Roho Mtakatifu’ (holy spirit) asks me if I have brought anything for ‘Jehovah’ before he can give me audience.

"Vile unavyo ona Jehovah amezeeka na ana mabibi wengi na vile vile watoto chungu nzima. Ukienda kuongea naye lazima utoe kitu mzuri," ‘Roho Mtakatifu’ says. (As you can see Jehovah is old and has many wives and children. You must give him a substantial gift after the interview.)

After complying with this condition a young man is sent to go and request ‘god’ to allow me in his presence. The young man kneels before addressing ‘god’, who accepts my request.

I enter a small open hut where ‘Jehovah’ is seated and after exchanging pleasantries, he demands to know the reason for my visit.

The ‘Creator’

Wife Sarah Navai, also known as ‘Roho Mtakatifu’, kneels before her master.

He then asks if I have brought anything for ‘Jehovah’ because he has a family to feed and is too old to travel long distances.

After explaining the purpose of my visit, I pose my questions: Has he been to heaven? When does he plan to end the world? Is he in touch with Jesus and how? Has he performed any miracles? Why is he living in abject poverty if he really is God?

Wanyonyi is clearly shocked that I have the audacity to ask him such questions.

"You humans will simply perish because of your foolishness," he replies sternly. "How dare you ask your father if he knows his home or talks to his children?"

After the outburst he is silent for about a minute, then looks upwards and asks ‘Jesus’ to pardon me for doubting the ‘creator’. There follows a tense moment and I fear the interview might come to an abrupt end.

His wives and children are equally appalled by my questions and stare at me as if I have lost my mind.

‘Jehovah’ sneezes and asks for a handkerchief and his crown, which are brought to him by one of his wives, who kneels before handing them over.

Stop the sun

"Go tell your people that one of these days, I will stop the sun at midday and it will not proceed to set for three months. You will all come running to me for forgiveness due to your lack of faith," he tells me.

To my relief, he allows the interview to continue and says that we are no different from the many unbelievers who have tried to kill him to see if he truly is God.

"I cannot die," he declares. "I came to conquer the world. This is just your flesh that I am wearing but I’m the lord your god. Those who believe in me will not perish."

It is 11am and as the interview progresses, his followers stream into the compound.

They bow and kneel before him as they exchange greetings. All refer to him as ‘Jehovah’. He has a special chair with ‘Jehovah’ inscribed on it.

"If there was any other god superior to me, would he allow an impostor to live? He would have killed me with lightning for pretending. I would do the same to anyone pretending to be me, your god," Wanyonyi explains.

Displaying his palms, Wanyonyi claims to have created the earth just as it is written in the book of Genesis.

He will end the world in the way as it is written in the holy book, he adds.

"I will turn the sun into fire, resurrect the dead and embark on judgement. I will create 12 doors in heaven through which the righteous will go while fire will be on earth where the sinners will burn for eternity," says Wanyonyi.

He says he has no fixed abode because wherever he goes, unbelievers chase him away accusing him of blasphemy.

Weapons of death

"I only settled in Uasin Gishu about three years ago and almost immediately about 200 youths attacked me and wanted to slash me to see if blood would come out," he says.

The youths, armed with machetes, demanded that he gets out of his house to face their weapons and death. But he remained indoors and they were afraid to break into the house to get him.

"I knew they would not kill me and did not go out to face them because I did not come to this world to die like my son Jesus," he says.

Neighbours and his wives corroborate the story and confirm that indeed youths attacked his home one night.

According to them, the youths comprised of locals and others who had followed Wanyonyi from his previous home at Chwele, Bungoma District, from where he was chased away.

"I’m certain they had been sent to kill me. They want to kill me but I am beyond death," he says and breaks into prolonged laughter.

One of his grass-thatched houses is his throne. Due to his large family, food is cooked on about 20 fireplaces constructed outside.

Wanyonyi, or ‘Jehovah’ as he insists on being called, was born in Kamukuywa in the larger Bungoma District, to parents he says are now in heaven.

"When I was born, my parents knew I was god and they took good care of me. I did not go to school. Instead I embarked on seeking followers," he says.

He has four married sisters who, says, recognise him as their god rather than their brother.

Wanyonyi says all his wives and 75 children will accompany him to heaven so long as they do not sin.

"If they sin they die here on earth because I have sired them with humans," he says.

Wanyonyi says he had intended to marry 400 wives but the thought of begetting many children who would succumb to ‘this sinful world’ made him change his mind.

None of his wives or children has ever fallen sick, he claims. And because he is not human, he also does not fall ill.

"My only regret is that you humans have refused to take care of me," he complains adding the warning that if people fail to do so in the next five years, they will regret it.

Save the world

And although he has harem, Wanyonyi says men will be judged harshly when the world comes to an end because they worship women.

"You worship women and that is why there is so much immorality in the world. Unless men change, they will be severely punished for idolising women," he warns.

Wanyonyi cautions that churches will lead many people to hell because they are full of people who are hypocrites and liars. He does not go to church and says that since he is God, his followers instead come to his home for blessings, especially on Saturday, which he says is the Sabbath day.

"I have a sizeable number of followers and I do not mind that. I am not after offerings to make me rich. I have come to save the world and not to make money. That is why I’m not rich as you would expect," he says.

His parting words: "Do not let church leaders deceive you because they are led by the Satan who has also blocked yours eyes and minds to the fact that I am lord your God. Come to me instead."

 

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