Mystery over missing sect leader Jehovah Wanyonyi

Followers of the “Lost Israelites” sect have been thrown into a spiritual tailspin after their self-declared messiah, Jehovah Wanyonyi, went missing from his Uasin Gishu home.

The sect leader, popularly referred to by his followers in western Kenya as “a living god”, left his home a week ago and his whereabouts remain unknown.

The Lost Israelites followers gathered at Mr Wanyonyi’s home in Chemororoch Village in Nangili, on the boarder of Uasin Gishu and Kakamega counties, seeking to establish the fate of their shepherd.

Their spokesman, Eliab Masinde, however, dispelled rumours that their god had died, saying their spiritual leader had been taken by his children to seek treatment at an undisclosed place after he complained of back pain.

“All that we know is that our god is alive and nobody should ever claim that he is dead.

“He left his home on Friday, accompanied by one of his sons and a church member to Kitale to seek treatment but was instead transferred by kinsmen to Nairobi for close supervision while undergoing treatment,” he said.

Mr Masinde, who doubles as the Lost Israelites’ shrine caretaker, disclosed that Mr Wanyonyi had suffered back pain over the past four years and this had confined him to a wheelchair. He said the followers recognise the Bible and they read from both the New and Old Testaments in their preaching.

The sect conducts its services on Saturdays.

“Word went out that Jehovah was dead after he was whisked away from his home in a waiting vehicle never to come back again to share a word with the faithful,” said Mr Masinde.

'TRUE DESCENDANTS'

He said their spiritual leader has several wives and many children, who strongly believe that they are the true descendants of the Biblical children of Israel.

“We will tell you the day when our god will have his last breath, but for now, let us not keep on speculating,” said Mr Masinde, adding that he was praying for Wanyonyi’s quick recovery.

“All that we know is that one day he will be back and tell the world what happened. He is our true god and nobody should peddle rumours about his whereabouts,” he said while surrounded by other followers and family members.

At the same time, the family members criticised the government for neglecting their god, saying they had been subjected to humiliation whenever they sought help.

“None of our family members has received any assistance from the government let alone stipend for the elderly that our father is entitled to like any other elderly person entitled to receive the monthly token,” said Mrs Rebecca Nekesa, one of Mr Wanyonyi’s daughters who arranged for the treatment of the “messiah”.

One of Mr Wanyonyi’s wives, Sylvia Nangila, said the sect’s flag, erected in the family’s compound, could have been flying at half-mast had her husband died.

“As you can see, the flag is at (full mast) while the holy sword is on the altar, a clear indication that my husband, who is our god, is alive and well,” she said.