The black 'God'

After his story was aired by a national television in the Republic of Kenya, and having read about him in other online news, a great urge grew in me to go interview this first Kenyan ‘God’ Jehovah Wanyonyi. This curiosity will kill some journalist some day! I thought this festive season is the best time as the ‘God’ might be on holiday of some sort. Our journey started from Narok via Kericho, Nandi Hills, Kipkaren, Mumias and our day ended in Bungoma County- Bungoma Town. We spend our night at Mama Nanjala’s place at St. Veronicah’s village. The weather in Bungoma was not good, it was stormy but for a pastoralist like me it is music to the ears. I asked Mama Nanjala where this Jehovah Wanyonyi resides; though she is a staunch catholic she gladly narrated the directions and issued us with warning on how to approach the shrine and how to behave in front of ‘God’. My photographer was apparently nervous but he had no option but to accompany me to the shrine and do his assigned job, taking as clear photos of ‘God’ as possible. Jehovah Wanyonyi resides and conducts business at the slopes of Mt. Elgon in a small isolated village called Kimalewa. The 78 years prophet says the slopes are holy and he calls it Mt. Zion. He has influenced people to sell their land and falsely prophesied so many times that the end of the world is near. He also claims to cure terminal diseases including HIV/AIDS. Religious leaders in the village say he is a false prophet as written in the Bible that in the end days false prophets will gratify themselves more than the chosen and called few. The worshippers bow down facing the throne murmuring words and long sentences that only them and their ‘god’ seems to understand. Jehovah Wanyonyi sat erect like that Tomboya statue next to Mr. Price in Nairobi. To my astonishment, he does not move an inch; he however nodes in acknowledgement of the worship. Dan was nervous to take photographs which I would also have felt the same. The worship subsided and we approached the throne faces down. I managed to raise my eyes only to meet Jehovah’s eyes, they are hot red a sign of a self made supernatural individual. My saliva choked me but knowing I am facing a non-god, I got all the courage there is. I greeted him; he nodes in reply, he signalled me to go nearer. I got a bit scared but he doesn’t match a lion I ever faced during my initiation into manhood. ‘I am a poor man with a big family, 97 children and 28 wives, what do you have for me? If you can give us Kshs. 2,000 we will get food for today’ he whispered. I froze. God asking for help? I looked at Dan, the look in his eyes simply meant he wanted to disappear from the face of ‘God’. We quickly consulted and produced Kshs.1, 000 which he quickly grabbed and waved us good bye as if he only needed sacrifice from us which of course is true. The worshippers ululated as if we donated our hearts. Once at the safety of our car, we laughed as if we came to commit suicide but some power saved us. We felt like a bird out of a hunter’s grip. Apparently, our interview with Jehovah Wanyonyi was not to be but thanks to the few individuals who gladly volunteered information to us.We did not take any photographs given that were under tight security from very vigilant youth. We came back to Narok with mixed feelings, feeling of excitement for having seen this ‘Black God’ and the feeling of not able to hear his voice. One thing stands though, that he is not God. He is a very false prophet. And may the true God of Israel be glorified today and forever.