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By Ongera Matundura
In 1999, a damning report was tabled before parliament, and it was not your usual report this time around. Five years earlier, the then President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi had tasked a commission led by the Archbishop Nicodemus Kirima of Nyeri to investigate devil worshipping in Kenya. The report concluded that devil worship was common in Kenya and that religious cults in schools, and in the country more generally, were a growing concern. The commission recommended the creation of a special police force to investigate crimes of the occult – including ritual murder, human sacrifice, and cannibalism. It also recommended the regulation of churches. However, these recommendations have yet to be implemented. Just like President Moi, the political class as a whole has shied away from the matter due to its sensitive nature. So now Kenya is a hotbed of religious cults, and the recent Shakahola massacre is a perfect illustration of the price society can pay for cultism.
How to identify a cult
Identifying a dangerous religious group can be challenging, but there are warning signs to watch out for. Here are some indicators that might help.
Firstly, dangerous cults often have a single charismatic leader who claims special knowledge or divine authority. This leader may demand absolute loyalty and discourage questioning or dissent.
Additionally, cults may isolate members from friends, family, and the outside world. They control information flow, restrict access to external media, and discourage critical thinking. Again, watch for financial demands beyond reasonable donations or tithes. Some cults pressure members to give up their savings, property, or assets. Also, many cults use emotional manipulation or ‘love-bombing’ to draw people in, but later they employ fear, guilt, and shame to keep members compliant. Cults create an “us vs. them” narrative, portraying outsiders as evil or misguided. So members are encouraged to cut ties with non-members.
Extreme beliefs and practices, unrealistic claims, apocalyptic predictions, and extreme rituals such as violence or self-harm are also warning signs. Finally, cults often use secrecy and hidden agendas to avoid public scrutiny.
Recent notable cult occurrences in Kenya
There are more than 4,000 churches registered in Kenya, a country of around 54 million people. So Kenya is no stranger to larger-than-life pastors preaching fire and brimstone sermons and predicting the end of the world. It also has its fair share of pastors preaching the so-called ‘prosperity’ gospel, urging members to secure a reward from God by donating heavily to church coffers.
Pastor Paul Mackenzie
In May 2023, news of a mass suicide involving a Christian doomsday cult appalled Kenya when hundreds of bodies were discovered buried in a forest in the south-east of the country. Shockingly, children had been ordered to fast in the sun until they died. Women and men then followed suit. Autopsies conducted on the bodies of the victims revealed signs of starvation, suffocation, and beatings. Over 600 cult members remain missing.
The deceased were members of the Good News International Church led by Pastor Paul Mackenzie who preached against education, denied women medical attention during childbirth, and encouraged his followers to starve themselves to death. Mackenzie is now battling litigation in the courts, and we can only hope that justice will be served. Even after the closure of the church by the government, there are still hundreds of Mackenzie’s sermons online denying the validity of science, and making absurd predictions about Judgement Day and the end of the world.
Jehovah Wanyonyi
Wanyonyi was born in Bungoma in 1925 and launched his Lost Israelites sect in 1956. Four years later he claimed to be Almighty God, the father of Jesus Christ, and asked his 1,000 followers to worship him. Taking both Kenya and neighbouring Uganda by storm, Wanyonyi asserted that the nearby Mount Elgon was the biblical Mount Zion, claimed he could cure HIV/Aids, and threatened to punish Kenya if the country didn’t provide him with 3 billion Kenyan shillings (approximately $34.6 million at the time). Although Wanyonyi died in 2015, he still has some many followers who believe his claim to be God and who expect him to return to them. They deny that they are members of a cult on the grounds that the government registered their organisation as a church in 1964.
Prophet David Owuor
The Repentance and Holiness Church led by Prophet David Owuor has faced accusations that it is a cult due to its stringent rules and the high expectations placed on its members. Critics argue that miracles attributed to Prophet Owuor are hoaxes, and that he exploits people suffering from various diseases by offering them false hope. It seems that many of his followers give 100% of their salaries to support the church.
Former members say that threats and intimidation have been used to silence critics. Some church members, including police officers, target those who speak out by sending them threatening messages, targeting their social media accounts, and even by issuing in-person warnings. Despite this, members of the church remain strong in their belief in Prophet Owuor. The situation concerning the church continues to be a matter of debate and scrutiny in Kenya.
The Way forward
Attempts by Kenyan authorities to regulate religion have run into fierce opposition in this largely Christian nation. Our politicians are part of the problem. They are in bed with church leaders, and for the sake of votes, they don’t dare point a finger. The current President William Ruto rose to power largely because he positioned himself as ‘God chosen’. Seneca put it well, “Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful.”
The Kenya constitution promulgated in 2010 clearly states that Kenya does not have a state religion. We are a secular state and freedom of religion is guaranteed in our constitution to the extent that major Christian and Muslim events are marked by public holidays. However, as is the case in many other African countries, freedom from religion is always overlooked. Kenyan cults manage to evade the law even after repeatedly attracting police attention, but the Atheists In Kenya Society still has to struggle to retain official registration.
Presidential commissions formed after cultic tragedies like the Shakahola massacre are pointless if their recommendations are not acted upon. The political class and law enforcement agencies must step up if this fight is to be won.
Furthermore, most of these self-styled pastors have never set foot in any theological college, but their flocks do not seem to be alarmed by this. Such churches have mushroomed in recent years across rural Kenya, “where people have little information about schooling”. The Kenyan government could borrow from Rwanda and make it mandatory for preachers to have some recognised qualification.
Religious cults can be complex and challenging to address, but information is critical in the fight against cultism. The masses need to be educated about cults, their tactics, and the signs of coercive control so that they understand how cults manipulate and exploit their members. It’s unfortunate that even some learned and reputable members of society have been preyed on by cult leaders.
Scientific literacy plays a crucial role in combating the influence of cults. It fosters critical thinking and encourages people to question assumptions, seek evidence, and evaluate arguments logically. It enables people to analyze data, assess evidence, and differentiate between credible sources and misinformation. Scientifically literate individuals are better equipped to recognize false claims and pseudoscientific beliefs. They can evaluate claims made by cults and identify inconsistencies. They are thus less likely to fall victim to cult propaganda. Cults thrive on blind obedience; critical thinking disrupts this pattern.
In conclusion, in a democratic society, informed citizens are essential. Scientifically literate individuals can make informed decisions, vote on the basis of evidence, and advocate for policies grounded in science. This strengthens democratic processes and prevents cult-like ideologies from gaining undue influence.