Pastor Mackenzie, Other Preachers Who Hit Headlines In 2023

• Pastor Paul Mackenzie was the face of 2023 in controversy; hundreds of deaths were reported from his Good News International church
• Jesus of Tongaren caused a craze for a while with his claim that he was the real son of God covered in the Christian Bible
• Pastor Ezekiel divided opinions as he got linked with the Shakahola massacre masterminded by Mackenzie

This year, many clerics hit the headlines locally and beyond borders owing to their conduct while attending to the faithful in their respective churches.

To start the year was the news about a self-proclaimed human son of God who claimed he had been sent again on earth to salvage humankind from the shackles of sin.

Then later came a controversial cult but religious leader whose faithful died due to starvation after being subjected to compulsory fasting.

TUKO.co.ke looks at some religious leaders who shaped conversations on spaces that matter from their pulpits.

1. Jesus of Tongaren

Years after the Jehovah Wanyonyi craze cooled off, another deity emerged from Bungoma county.

Unlike Jehovah Wanyonyi, who claimed to be the supreme being preached in houses of worship, the new deity claims he is Jesus, the son of God.

Identified as Mwalimu Yesu, the father of eight based in Tongaren told the world he was the real Messiah whom God sent to the world.

The believers in his church hold him in high regard, and they marvel at his ability to heal the sick and perform other miracles according to them.

To help him with his ministry are 12 disciples whom he says are descendants of Jacob.

His wife, identified as Prophet Benjamin, explained her husband had the power to heal the sick and perform other miracles.

2. Father John Pesa

The founder of the Holy Ghost Coptic Church in Kisumu angered many after it emerged he had detained some of his congregants with mental challenges.

Pesa was accused of maltreating them while in detention.

In January, state law enforcers rescued several people chained in dingy cells at the Kisumu-based church.

Some of the victims locked behind metal bars narrated how they survived on one meal a day, leading to them suffering from malnutrition.

Besides sharing cells, they revealed that they use buckets to relieve themselves.

The 'inmates' would only allowed to see the sun once a week.

A detainee at the church narrated how he had survived without taking a bath for weeks.

"Since I came from the other room I have never taken a bath, Until yesterday I was asking for water but no one was listening to me," he said.

Later in August, four graveyards were discovered by detectives in the precincts of Pesa's church.

The probe leading to the discovery was undertaken by officers drawn from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), and health officers from the Kisumu county government.

They were acting on claims that the mentally challenged were being detained in the church while those dying were getting buried there secretly.

The preacher confirmed the graves within the compound but clarified they were for church volunteers.

He disputed the assertion that dead faithful of the church have been buried there secretly.

"If any death occurs here, the body of the deceased is taken home for burial. Even if our priests pass away, they are buried at home immediately after the mass is held here in the church and that is what we do for the believers in this church," Pesa said.

He founded the church in 1971 after leading a breakaway faction out of the Catholic Church.

3. Paul Mackenzie

The Good News International Church founder was featured in the news for a time from March to the rest of the year.

Mackenzie was discovered to have indoctrinated his followers, most of whom died after he advised them to fast with the intent of seeing God.

Those who died in the course of the fast were buried in shallow graves in the vast Shakahola forest believed to be owned by the cleric.

Investigators camped in the forest where they rescued malnourished children and women who stared at death as the pangs of hunger bit on.

Mackenzie was arrested alongside his associates to face numerous charges, among them murder, kidnapping, and cruelty towards children.

He has been in custody for the better of the year.

His teachings left Kenyans discussing the importance of testing each prophetic spirit before following it as ordered in 1 John 4.1.

"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

4. Ezekiel Odero

The New Life Prayer Centre and Church founder suffered quite a lot at the hands of the state, which was investigating claims of money laundry and indoctrination of his congregants.

He was arrested on April 27 and later detained for days.

Ezekiel was questioned by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives about a morgue, Milele Funeral Home, built close to his church; and also links with an embattled Mackenzie.

The televangelist was detained after the aforementioned morgue employees confirmed booking in bodies of people believed to be from his church.

His run-ins with the law divided opinions even as his staunch followers read malice on the state.

While the law enforcers pointed out grave issues against him, the preacher won sympathisers who cited his charitable causes at his ultra-modern church and other establishments sitting on a vast tract in Mavueni, Kilifi county.

Among the repercussions Ezekiel suffered included, among others, detention, freezing of his accounts, closure of his church and the suspension of his TV station.

A Senate ad hoc committee would later clear the pastor after visiting his church’s compound in Mavueni and found no evidence of a morgue and other claims against him.

5. Elizabeth Mokoro

The Seventh-Day Adventist preacher has informed discussions on the internet with her authoritarian summons, especially addressed to couples.

Most of her arguments and thoughts have appeared to dissent from the norm, often seeming to call for the normalisation of vices like cheating and philandering among men in marriages.

She is on record advising women against tracing the whereabouts of their men, with those disagreeing with her arguing that this would abet cheating.

Mokoro also advises women who are only focused on education to consider finding spouses or risk meeting suitable partners.

Elsewhere, she advised wives against questioning their husbands for arriving home late.

6. James Ng'ang'a

The Neno Evangelism preacher has become synonymous with controversies.

From talking down his congregants to whining about meagre offerings by the goers of his church, Nga'ang'a has been the face of circuses in pulpits.

He is on record stipulating that paltry offerings would not be tolerated in his church.

In another instance, he sold his congregants torn pieces of paper saying they bore blessings.

In October, Ng'ang'a took on President William Ruto and his regime for exploiting Kenyans.

Describing himself as the Chief General Commander of spiritual matters, the cleric said that, as an ordained religious leader, he could not sit aside and watch Kenyans being subjected to more suffering.

He said he was ready to lose everything, including his church, if that was the price of speaking truth to the powers.

"The economy is tough, and you are carelessly using public funds. You are increasing the cost of living and taxes every now and then, and when you are told the truth, you come and close the church. You can go ahead and shut down churches," said the agitated pastor.