The infamous Shakahola cult is mind boggling. The fact that it executed its’ doctrines in the glare of investigative agencies, and no action was taken even after some leaders raised eyebrows, is distressing. Hon Aisha Jumwa raised an alarm sometimes back about the controversial cult leader Mackenzie. He was arrested, arraigned in court, but later released on bond.
The ignorance in the society is being mined by such cult leaders, perpetuating as true preachers of God. This calls for the attention of the government to commence vetting and regulating religious institutions. We have witnessed in the past; mosques being used to recruit youths into Alshabaab. With the dawn of the current horrifying situation of Mackenzie cult, it is long overdue to regulate religious institutions.
Society is much gullible due to the persistent poverty and ignorance inflicting people’s daily lives. Therefore, it is easy for society to become vulnerable to such cults. The Shakahola massacre is an unfortunate horrifying event, mind you, having happened in the glare of investigative cameras, and nothing was done.
This could have been prevented if the government was proactively involved after the public raised an alarm about the dubious preacher. But it is too late, the cult having claimed many lives, as well as transformed followers’ minds into oblivion. The cult must be stopped immediately, and the perpetrators brought to book.
Mackenzie inspires his radicalized followers to fast to their deaths, to be able to link up with Jesus. I thought Jesus was always in our midst, and people can still speak to him spiritually. Religion is a center bolt of our lives, especially in African, leading some people astray due to fanaticism to their preachers.
I besiege ignorance and poverty with knowledge and courage. The only way to shield our society with protection against such cults is through knowledge and courage. Knowledge can remove some blindness in the mindset for many people to reflect on what is best for them. Courage will enable many people to confront life without fear to interrogate what is best for them.
I’m still perturbed how an air hostess could sell her properties worthy ksh 7M or a man could sell his properties worthy Kshs 100M for 20M and remit all the funds to Mackenzie. It is a puzzle to unravel. His massive wealth is because of extortion from his followers with a lie that they could finally meet Jesus. Mackenzie is a criminal who needs a new version of capital punishment. I feel death penalty is not enough.
There are some powerful people in leadership involved in all this saga. The perpetrators are just agents to facilitate cults and extort money. This makes this situation altogether complicated and almost impossible for the victims to get justice. The government will make frantic efforts to be seen as criminalizing this cult ordeal but attenuate the efforts as the public seem to forget and move on.