Desire to know future glues Kenyans to psychics' orbit

Obscure language

His critics, however, argue that Nostradamus couched his ‘prophetic’ verses in language so obscure that the words can be, and have been, interpreted to mean almost anything.

But his followers have credited him for predicting many major historical events and figures such as Napoleon, Hitler, Kennedys and even Princess Diana’s death. On the life and death of Diana he wrote:

“The last son of the man with the prophet’s name will bring Diana to her day of rest ...”

In the death of the princess, the ‘man with the prophet’s name’ appears to refer to Mohamed Al Fayed and his ‘last son’ is Dodi Fayed, who died with her in the road accident in 1997.

On John and Robert F Kennedy’s assassinations he wrote:

“The great man will be struck down in the day by a thunderbolt...another falls at night time.” The (great man) John Kennedy was gunned down (thunderbolt) in the afternoon of November 22, 1963, while Bobby Kennedy was killed just after midnight on June 5, 1968.

There are other predictions he made those many years ago whose fulfillment are said to have taken place in recent times.

Generally in Kenya, we have never had serious astrologers, save for those who pen horoscopes in the local dailies and the occasional ones who ‘predict’ political outcomes and deaths.

Indeed, when a senior politician died recently, many came out to claim that they had foreseen it and had told those who cared to listen.

Lack of fame

Despite their lack of fame like that of Nostradamus, many have their posters all over the city claiming to possess supernatural abilities not only to tell the future but also heal many ailments.

Recently, The Standard decided to visit one astrologer who boldly advertises his services consistently  in the media describing himself as  a psychic, spiritualist and astrologer with the title ‘Dr’.  Sheikh Ayub’s humble abode in the dusty Eastleigh in Nairobi is a busy place.

A number of clients wait patiently for their turn to see the ‘doctor’. The room where he carries out the healings has neon lights and strong incense fills the air while soft Arabian music plays continuously.
Seated on a sofa is Ayub, a humble looking man. Behind him are the flags of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Ayub claims to hold the key to successful marriages, excellence in sports and politics, among other mystic powers. He takes care of his clients’ various needs by using different herbs that he had collected from different parts of the world, especially Asia.

“I am not a fake astrologer; I am registered with the Government,” says Ayub pointing to a certificate of practice from the ministry of National Heritage and Culture.
He describes himself as a psychic — one who is able to get in touch with the dead.

Commune with the dead

But it is not his ability to commune with the dead that attracts many to his home. They come to see him because he uses tarot, astrology and psychic intuitiveness combined with good old-fashioned common sense to tell them about what the future holds for them.

Ayub, who was born in Uganda to a Ugandan mother and Nigerian father, was chosen by elders to take over the mantle of foretelling the future  from his grandfather in 1998.

“I then learnt the trade and perfected the art,” he says.

Because of his psychic ability, he says, he is in touch with spiritual beings including evil spirits. This has enabled him to heal people tormented by spirits by reprimanding the spirits directly before banishing them to hell.

To help his patients, Ayub plays religious songs and often quotes different sections of the Quran. His is not an easy job.

“Like for her (a patient in the room) the deliverance took three days,” he says. The length of time for healing depends on what one is suffering from.

“In Islam we call these spirits jins and they love deserts and water bodies,” he says. “This is why they abound in Mombasa.”

Jins, explains Ayub, love dirt hence it is advisable not to walk near water bodies or garbage heaps at night.

Ayub does not claim to heal everything. He advises those with medical conditions to go to hospitals, he says.
“Politicians interested in power and elective posts have been my regular clients,” he says.

While some follow his advice, others choose to follow their hearts. For example, during a by-election in Nairobi sometime back, he told a politician interested in the seat that he would not win, but the politician went ahead and lost miserably.

He claims to know Kenya’s next president and that a woman will take over the mantle after  the next president.

Clean country

“The man, who will get elected next year, will basically clean the country and get rid of the ingrained corrupt systems but the woman will make great strides in matters of development,” he says, confidently.

But how can he be so sure yet it is only five months to the elections? Many astrologers give indefinite timings.

He says his prediction will come to pass.

Before we leave, he tells us something that sounds like sweet music — next year’s election will be peaceful. The recent Tana Delta clashes don’t point to violent elections but they are the work of evil spirits that must be dealt with by religious leaders — not security forces, he says.

As for his political predictions only time will tell. Like Nostradamus we will weigh him on the scales of time and prove his worth.