The Shakahola massacre, allegedly perpetrated by the controversial pastor, Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, shocked the nation, with President William Ruto terming the incident an act of terrorism.
On Friday, April 28, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki announced the government’s plan to crack down on more churches to restore sanity.
Deacons also condemned the act, stating that they were dismayed by the mass killings, which also led to the arrest of Pastor Ezekiel Odero of the New Life Prayer Centre.
Pastors Ezekiel and Mackenzie were accused of terrorism, mass killing of followers, radicalisation, kidnapping and indoctrination of their faithful.
Further from the incident, Odero and Mackenzie are among the pastors who have attracted nationwide uproar with controversial remarks, either on their doctrine or lifestyle.
Victor Kanyari
Kanyari, a televangelist, is famous for motivating his followers to plant a seed (give offering in the form of money).
Congregants were told to send Ksh310 via mobile money to receive miracles.
His trademark phrase panda mbegu ya Ksh310, put him in the spotlight, prompting then hawk-eyed investigative journalist, Mohammed Ali (Jicho Pevu) to investigate his church operations and miracles.
In November 2014, he was exposed for doing fake miracles. He used a chemical reaction to hoodwink gullible followers that he had the power to cure diseases. In 2018, he started another congregation under his new title, Bishop Mwangi.
Kanyari recently introduced a programme dubbed Miracle Money aired on his media house, Shifu TV, where he promises to offer ack nearly three times the amount a viewer sends.
Bishop Margaret Wanjiru
The Co-operative CS was once recorded speaking about her taste in the finer things in life.
“I wear golden sandals in the morning, change to silver in the afternoon, and retire in bronze in the evening," the Jesus is Alive Ministries Bishop stated nearly nine years ago.
The deacon, ventured into politics, rising from an MP (Starehe) to Assistant Minister for Housing and was in 2023 appointed CAS in President William Ruto's government.
Gilbert Deya
The Bishop ran the controversial Gilbert Deya Ministries. The church started in Kenya in the 1990s before he transferred its operations to England. Deya claimed to perform miracles and aid barren women to conceive in the 'Miracle Babies' saga.
Gilbert Deya was arrested in December 2006 in London and extradited to Kenya. His wife, Eddah Mary Deya, was also apprehended in November 2004 and charged in 2007 for stealing babies.
Later, Gilbert divorced his wife, claiming he cheated on her to avoid prostate cancer.
“When I was in England, I stayed for 15 years. I am a human being and could not be without having a woman because that could give me prostate cancer,” he stated in an interview in June 2019.
James Ng'ang'a
Ng'ang'a, a televangelist and guitarist, is renowned for issuing controversial remarks, from publicly attacking his critics to threatening to kick out congregants for disrespecting his wife and punishing his bishops for looking down upon him.
In August 2015, he was accused of causing the death of the late Mercy Njeri by dangerous driving. He was later charged with giving false information, failing to report an accident, and conspiracy to defeat justice.
The deacon was acquitted in August 2018 after the court found out he had no case to answer.
On March 31, 2021, the preacher claimed he could heal patients from Coronavirus but needed the government's permission.
Paul Mackenzie Nthenge
Mackenzie is accused of teaching his congregants that education and healthcare services are barbaric.
He was accused of directing his congregants to burn birth, academic certificates, and Identity (ID) cards.
Additionally, he reportedly asked his congregants to fast till death so that they could "meet Jesus". He is currently being investigated for the deaths of tens of congregants.
While arraigned in court on April 17, 2023, Mackenzie warned the police and his critics against fighting him.
“Mnachopigana nacho hamkijui. Na kitawaramba. Nimewaambia, kitawaramba." he claimed.
Ezekiel Odero
In several sermons, he claimed to solve his congregants' challenges by foretelling their future using their “stars” (nyota).
On the topic of fasting, he noted that his nyota (star) allowed him to fast.
“I used to like eating, but the day I got the star (nyota) of fasting, the star removed the hunger and increased my interest in prayer,” he revealed.
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