In 1999, a damning report was tabled before parliament. It was not your usual report, this time round, the then President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi had tasked a commission (Five years earlier in 1994), led by the archbishop Nicodemus Kirima of Nyeri to investigate devil worshiping in Kenya. From the reports, it emerged that religious cults in schools and generally in Kenya was a growing concern. Cultism had just begun according to the report and among many recommendations, there was need to regulate churches in Kenya through parliamentary means. Specifically, involving the police and establishment of a moral agency. To date these recommendations are yet to be actualized. To add salt to the wound, the successive political class just like the president Moi have shied away from the matter due to its sensitive nature. Today Kenya is a hotbed of religious cults and perhaps the recent shakahola massacre is a perfect case study of the price a society can pay for cultism.
What is a cult?
A cult is a group which is typically led by a charismatic and self-appointed leader, who tightly controls its members, requiring unwavering devotion to a set of beliefs and practices which are considered deviant.
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, emotional manipulation where cults use love-bombing initially to draw people in. Later, they employ fear, guilt, and shame to keep members compliant. Cults create an “us vs. them” narrative, portraying outsiders as evil or misguided. Members are encouraged to cut ties with non-members.
Extreme Beliefs and Practices and other unrealistic claims, apocalyptic predictions, or extreme rituals such as violence or self-harm are a warning sign. Finally, secrecy and hidden Agendas is the how cults often operate to avoid public scrutiny.
Recent notable cult occurrences in Kenya
Kenya is no stranger to larger-than-life pastors preaching fire and brimstone sermons and predicting the end of the world. There are more than 4,000 churches registered in the East African country of around 54 million people. Some preach the so-called prosperity gospel, urging members to donate heavily to church coffers.
Christian Doomsday Cult: In May 2023, an apparent mass suicide involving a Christian doomsday cult occurred in Kenya. The cult members were found dead in a forest in the nation’s southeast. Shockingly, children were targeted as the first victims, ordered to fast in the sun until they died. Women and men followed suit in the suicide plan. The cult leader, Pastor Paul Mackenzie, allegedly encouraged starvation, denied medical attention during childbirth, and preached against education. Autopsies revealed signs of starvation, suffocation, and beatings among the deceased. Over 600 cult members remain missing. The cult Leader Pastor Paul Mackenzie whose church’s name is Good News International Church is still battling litigation in a Kenyan court. Fingers are crossed that the courts will deliver justice. Will the courts get it right this time round? Even after the closure of the church by the government, there are still hundreds of sermons online still perpetuating the denial of science other religious extremism, biblical prophecies about Judgment Day, end-of-the-world scenarios etc.
In 2018, news emerged of a family that lost seven children within four years because their organization, Kanitha Wa Ngai (Church of God), did not believe in using hospitals and modern medicine. The same year, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) warned citizens to watch out for a cult called Young Saints targeting university students.
Also, there is the story of Jehovah Wanyonyi, the man who took Kenya and neighboring Uganda by storm, started in Bungoma in 1925, when he was born. In 1956, he started the Baisraeli sect, then four years later that he claimed to be God and asked his followers to worship him. Jehovah Wanyonyi declared himself to be the Almighty God, asserting that Jesus Christ was his son. He even considered the nearby Mount Elgon to be Mount Zion. Wanyonyi asserted that he could cure AIDS and threatened to punish Kenya if the country didn’t provide him with 3 billion Kenyan shillings (approximately $34.6 million). With 70 wives and 95 children, Wanyonyi’s family was extensive. He had approximately 1,000 followers who regarded him as God. Despite these controversial beliefs, his followers insist that they are not part of a cult but rather a genuine church registered by the Kenyan government in 1964. The story of Jehovah Wanyonyi remains intriguing and mysterious, leaving a lasting impact on the region.
Prophet David Owuor, the leader of the Repentance and Holiness Church, has been a controversial figure in Kenya. Here are some key points about him and his ministry. The Church has faced accusations of being a cult due to its stringent rules and high expectations placed on church members.
Critics argue that publicized miracles attributed to Prophet Owuor are hoaxes, and they claim he capitalizes on individuals suffering from various diseases by offering them false hope. Prophet Owuor has allegedly brainwashed his followers into submitting all their earnings to the church. Many followers reportedly give 100% of their salaries to support the ministry.
Former members of Owuor’s church have accused the ministry of employing threats and intimidation to silence critics. Some members of the church, including police officers, allegedly target former members who speak out against the church and its activities. These tactics include sending threatening messages, targeting social media accounts, and even in-person warnings. Despite these controversies, the members of the Repentance and Holiness Church remain adamant in their belief in Prophet David Owuor. The situation surrounding Owuor’s ministry continues to be a subject of debate and scrutiny in Kenya.
Way forward
Attempts by Kenyan authorities to regulate religion have run into fierce opposition in the largely Christian nation. Our politicians are part of the problem, they thrive in such naivety and for the sake of votes, they wont dare point a finger. They are in bed with such church leaders, and it goes without saying that the current president 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, but Kenyan cults have managed to evade the law even after repeatedly attracting police attention. Basically, on book, we are a secular state though freedom of Religion is guaranteed in our constitution to the extent that major Christian and Muslim events have public holydays. Of course, like many other African countries, freedom from religion is always overlooked. The atheist society in Kenya is still struggling to get recognition despite the provisions of the laws that guarantees its formation possibility. The truth is, secular values are harmless and in contrast, the so called religious preachings have done unimaginable harm to the society.
Presidential commissions formed after cultic tragedies like Shakahola massacre are pointless if their recommendations are not worked upon. The political class and law enforcement agencies must be very intentionally if this fight is to be won.
Additionally, most of these self-styled pastors have never stepped a foot in any theological college but this doesn’t raise an alarm to their flock. In recent years, such churches have mushroomed across rural Kenya, “where people have little information about schooling”. The Kenyan government can borrow from Rwanda and make it mandatory for preachers to have some recognized qualifications.
Religious cults can be complex and challenging to address, but information is very vital in this fight against cultism. The masses need to be educated about cults, their tactics, and the signs of coercive control so as to understand how cults manipulate and exploit their members. It’s unfortunate that even some learned and reputable members of the society have been equally preyed on by cult leaders. The story of the Arungas testify to this.
Scientific literacy plays a crucial role in combating the influence of cults and misinformation. Scientifically literate individuals are better equipped to recognize false claims, pseudoscientific beliefs, and misleading information. By understanding scientific principles, they can critically evaluate claims made by cults and identify inconsistencies. Scientific literacy enables people to analyze data, assess evidence, and differentiate between credible sources and misinformation. When individuals possess these skills, they are less likely to fall victim to cult propaganda.
Scientific literacy fosters critical thinking. It encourages individuals to question assumptions, seek evidence, and evaluate arguments logically. 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 based on evidence, and advocate for policies grounded in science. This strengthens democratic processes and prevents cult-like ideologies from gaining undue influence.