Mungu wa Kakamega, Yesu wa Tongaren, Jehovah Wanyonyi: Rise of deities in Western Kenya

In the heartlands of Western Kenya, belief wears many faces, and some of them claim to be divine. To outsiders, they may appear as eccentric jokers who have probably imbibed something strong brewed in the natural streams flowing through the region. But to their loyal followers, these men and women are not just holy; they are living embodiments of Jesus, Mary the mother of Jesus, Jehovah, Joseph, John the Baptist, and other revered biblical figures, worthy of worship and veneration. This is the unfolding chronicle of parts of the Luhya community, where flesh-and-blood "gods" command reverence, attract pilgrims, and demand recognition from both the faithful and the state. Across the region, a growing number of individuals have declared themselves divine. Each claims to be the true God or the authentic Jesus, sent to save the world. Their assertions come wrapped in promises of miracles, prophecy, healing, and even divine retribution for sinners. Western Kenya has long stood in the limelight for reasons good, bad, and often extraordinary. But perhaps no phenomenon has been as peculiar or persistent as its self-anointed deities. These "gods" marry, raise children, and eventually die like any other mortal. Yet, their followers remain fiercely devoted, trekking vast distances to receive blessings, healing, and spiritual direction. Historically, the Bukusu have been the most prominent in producing such religious figures; however, the tide appears to be shifting. Other Luhya subgroups are now emerging with their own "holy" representatives. So when a new pair of spiritual leaders, 'Mary' and 'Joseph', surfaced last week, few were shocked. But what raised eyebrows were their heavenly demands. Mungu wa Kakamega Among the latest to ascend to self-deification is Alfred Ndeta of Mulomonye village, Lurambi Constituency, Kakamega County, who is cheekily dubbed Mungu wa Mataifa (God of Nations) or Mungu wa Kakamega. Unlike the God of scripture, whose protection flows from divine omnipotence, Ndeta now seeks earthly security: government-funded VIP protection, personal aides, and official recognition to "discharge his duties" as god. "I have no bodyguard, no assistant, and yet I am god. If the president is protected because he leads a nation, and the same as governors who lead counties, why don't I have security when I am god of all nations?" he posed. But it doesn't stop at bodyguards. Ndeta wants state-appointed priests, servants, and financial support for his divine mission. A Class Four dropout, he claims he descended on Earth on March 10, 1987, arriving in Nairobi with no memory of his origins. After a prophetic dream, a celestial voice instructed him to journey to a place called "Heaven," which turned out to be Shibuli in Kakamega. There, he began constructing his sanctuary, designed to spell out "GOD" using three buildings symbolic of the heavenly realm. He says he defeated Satan and cast him into hell on August 22 1988, a spiritual triumph commemorated by his believers. The self-proclaimed god with long dreadlocks and a rastafarian cap argues that he is the only god, and prayers are not allowed at his holy place. "I am the god who came 34 years ago to save mankind and nations. I don't allow prayers at my place because I am god, the father of prayers. I pray for people because I carry the blessings. Why would anyone pray when I am the father of prayers and blessings?" claimed Mungu wa Mataifa. He claims not to have a biological family. "Where have you seen God with children? "My family are my believers," he said. He also insists he does not relieve himself, although he eats food like every other human being, claiming, "I have never gone for a short or long call since I came to this world." Ndeta has a troop of young men he refers to as angels, trained to be disciplined, peaceful, and loving servants. He dismisses other self-proclaimed messiahs, like Yesu wa Tongaren and Jehovah Wanyonyi, as spiritual underlings, claiming to have defeated them in battle and consigned them to hell. Mary Mother of Jesus Not to be outdone, Judith Nafula, a 50-year-old woman from Nangoma village, Matayos Constituency, Busia County, has announced herself as the reincarnation of Mary, mother of Jesus. A mother of five, Nafula claims she was praying when a bright light filled the room and a voice declared her the modern Virgin Mary. Nafula insists that her husband, John Weluko, is Joseph and has chosen to walk with her in what they call a "spiritual restoration of the Holy Family." "I was in prayer when a brilliant light filled the room, and a voice told me I was Mary. From that moment, my life changed. My husband, too, was revealed to be Joseph. We were given strict divine instructions," she said. Following the calling, she claims, the "Holy Spirit" directed her to vacate the couple's bedroom and move into the sitting room, which she now refers to as her sanctuary. The pair were reportedly instructed to fast for two months and to abstain from Holy Communion for five years. "I even received a special garment from God. I wear it every day. Strange things kept happening to me after the calling," she claimed, draped in a white robe with a golden sash. According to her, what started as a spiritual awakening has now turned into a full-blown pilgrimage site. Nafula's place is now known as "Bethlehem of Busia." Every day, pilgrims stream in from Kenya and neighbouring countries, including Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and even the Democratic Republic of Congo. They come seeking healing, miracles, or simply to catch a glimpse of "Mama Maria." Nafula's sister-in-law, Everlyne Ouma, said there was a couple that had been trying to conceive for years, but when they came here, prayed with Mama Maria, months later, they had a baby. "I thought it was just a village joke. "But when I got there, it was like a holy soap opera. One minute, people are singing 'Ave Maria', the next, they are on the ground, saying demons have left them. It is wild!" recalls Agnes Nanjala, a curious local who attended one of the gatherings. Yesu Wa Tongaren Two years ago, Eliud Simiyu, popularly known as "Jesus of Tongaren" in Bungoma County, hit the headlines for claiming that he is the real Jesus. 'Yesu wa Tongaren' prophesied that only 168,000 people worldwide would enter heaven, and that only two from Nairobi would qualify, neither of whom had yet been born. Members of the New Jerusalem sect in Lukhokwe village, Tongaren, claim that god showed visions to three of its members and revealed that he would be visiting "Jerusalem" from February 24 to 26, 2023. His sect members believe that Lukhokwe village is the Biblical Jerusalem-the city where Jesus Christ was brought up as a child, preached the gospel, and performed miracles. Worshippers follow strict dress codes: women must avoid trousers, wigs, and make-up; men must not wear mohawks, which are seen as the mark of the beast (666). "The colour and design of the clothes my members put on are not similar, they are different based on different visions and dreams they receive", said Jesus of Tongaren. Every member of the New Jerusalem sect is referred to as an angel or prophet and is prohibited from using their official names as they appear on their National Identification cards. The dreams and visions that sect members get are recorded in a black book that will then be translated into a new bible, which they call "Agano Jipya Safi" (Pure New Testament). The sect holds three festivals a year - New Year, July and October - each celebrated for three days, where goats, sheep and cows are slaughtered. Members of the church worship on two days; Saturday and Sunday. Interestingly, Jesus of Tongaren is married and the father of eight. He claims that Jesus, who was prophesied by Isaiah, was supposed to marry and have a family. Unlike others, Simuyu has faced investigations by authorities but has so far avoided legal trouble due to a lack of evidence of harm or fraud. "I have never said I am Jesus to mock anyone. I speak only what the Spirit tells me. My message is simple; repent and follow the truth," Simuyu once told local reporters. Jehovah Wanyonyi Long before the arrival of Mungu wa Mataifa or Yesu wa Tongaren, there was Jehovah Wanyonyi, the late leader of the Lost Israelites Ministries from Chemororoch, Bungoma, who found time from his "heavenly" duties to look after more than 70 wives, a majority of whom were aged between 14 and 18 years. Jehovah Wanyonyi claimed he could cure various diseases such as Aids, cancer, and hypertension. So "powerful" was Wanyonyi that there was a time he demanded Sh3 billion from the Kenyan government, lest he punish the country with HIV and Aids. When he passed on in 2015, aged 98, his followers were told to fast and await his resurrection after three days. They are still waiting. Prophet Elijah Before them all stood Prophet Elijah Masinde, founder of the anti-colonial faith Dini Ya Msambwa. He was born in 1910 in present-day Kimilili. Masinde founded Dini ya Msambwa when he left the Friends' Church in 1935 after the church objected to his plans to take a second wife, a Ugandan. Eventually, he married a second wife, and the Quakers expelled him. He died while having five wives. Among Masinde's prophecies was the one that foretold that the Luhya will get the presidency through the Lake (Nyanza region).

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