Lake Simbi Nyaima: Men of God use healing lake water to cast out evil spirits

Anyone who had gone bonkers or showed any signs of running mad, was alleged to be ‘filled with the power of the evil’. No one wanted to be associated with them, leave alone, visit their homes. For the religious ones, family members would gather and seek divine intervention or seek the services of  Men of God. 

And now, religious leaders from Homa Bay County have devised a solution to help the possessed ones. They drive the victims to Lake Simbi Nyaima in Central Karachuonyo for cleansing. The lake, it is believed, has powers to drive away evil spirits. 

The Nairobian team joined one of the religious leaders, Kennedy Odongo, a catechist of the God Last Appeal Church locally referred to as Luong Mogik Church, for one such ceremony. 

 Odongo told The Nairobian that he has cleansed more than 200 people with various health issues brought about by evil spirits. 

He added that majority of his patients are mentally ill people who cannot walk to the lake unaccompanied. On this particular afternoon, he had five patients. He starts by holding a prayer session with the victims at a nearby bush at the shores of Lake Simbi.

After the prayers, he isolates himself for what he terms as ‘cleansing himself’, before he asks the patients, who are very calm, to proceed to the lake. He washes their feet, face and hands, before immersing them, one by one, as he prays loudly, proclaiming words of healing upon them. 

The whole ceremony takes about one hour and from the silence, it is clear, it is a spiritual affair.

“Washing the patients in the lake is a way of cleansing them. Flow of water from the body into the lake means the demons are being washed away. The demons eventually remain in the lake,” said Odongo.

Odongo believes that the lake, which he visits at least five times in a month,  is a source of healing because the Holy Spirit, in a dream, revealed this to him.  The man of God, who hails from Anding’o village in Ndhiwa Sub-county, says that he dropped out of school in Form Two, after God revealed to him he was to become a pastor.  

He claims that in 2017, he was filled with the power of healing, and has since been going far and wide to heal the sick. 

“The Holy Spirit fell on me and I could no longer concentrate on academics. When I dropped out, I started praying for people and God directed me to be using Lake Simbi  as  a source of healing for my patients,” Odongo added.

Speaking to The Nairobian, Lucas Otieno, the Last God’s Appeal Church elder said there are many lakes in Kenya, but the Holy Spirit, just like in Odongo’s case, directed him to Lake Simbi. Otieno argued that Lake Simbi’s uniqueness makes it more suitable for prayers.

“The water from Lake Simbi is salty and warm, making it different from other lakes. We also used the water for treating people with skin infections,” Otieno said.

After prayers and washing patients,  they carry water in jerrycans that they will use to heal their flock, who are critically sick and cannot walk.  Some of his patients, who have been healed at Lake Simbi revealed the experience was real and they were healed. 

I used to see peopl but now I'm healed

Florence Anyango, from God Jope Village in Migori county, said before she was healed, unknown people would strangle her at night and for years, she was a troubled woman.  

 “It was a horrifying experience. I used to see people come to my house and strangle me. I couldn’t sleep. After visiting Lake Simbi, I was completely healed. I can now say I am  free woman,”  said Anyango said.

Caroline Awino revealed she was healed from migraines and fatigue.

“I have been washed in the lake and I believe my problems will remain here,” Awino said.

Chairman of Lake Simbi Nyaima Management Committee Kepher Owino, said the lake has become a destination for clergy from various churches.

“The clerics include those who just pray while others visit the lake for healing purposes. The water is  a source of healing and many of them carry the water home in jerrycans,” said Owino.

Lake Simbi Nyaima is salty with size of 2km circumference and 27.5 meters deep.

Geologists say that the lake was formed as a result of volcanic eruptions.

The lake is now a home to many flamingoes which have lived there since last year.

The lake has also become a destination for many tourists in the region.