Self-declared Prophet Yohana Wanyama is the latest spiritual sensation from a region that is famous for new religions and controversial prophets.
From Elijah Masinde of the Dini Ya Musambwa fame, who had converts across Western and parts of Rift Valley regions, to Jehova Wanyonyi, whose disappearance a few months ago remains a top-kept secret among his disciples, Bungoma County takes the prize for religious controversy.
Wanyama, 76, has authored his version of the bible with 93 scriptures.
“Every generation has its own bible and the version I developed is meant to guide the current generation. People should embrace the new bible because God spoke to me directly,” said Wanyama during an interview with The Standard on Sunday.
He has formulated a new doctrine that has attracted a sizeable congregation at Nandolia Village in Bukembe where he practices his version of religion.
Wanyama has come up with 12 commandments which he says were given to him by God to replace the 10 commandments contained in the Holy Bible.
“When people start disobeying God he changes. If it were not for missionaries, would Africans be aware of the Bible? The new commandments are in line with current life because of current realities,’’ he said.
“I worship on Sunday but I am a prophet every day,’’ he said.
The self-declared prophet at one time had 39 wives but three have since died, leaving him with 36. He has 98 children.
“I have a big family and it’s my responsibility to provide for them. I have 36 wives and 98 children. Together with my grandchildren, my family stands at 267 people,’’ he said. “By having such a big family, I am just protecting God’s wealth. I see nothing wrong because in the Bible Solomon had many wives.”
His large family and hundreds of followers from neighbouring villages make up the membership of his congregation which is known as “Muungano Church of the Holy Spirit”.
The church is not registered by the Registrar of Societies in Kenya as required by law. But the leader of this congregation is not worried, saying that process will be concluded after the launch of his bible.
Wanyama plans to launch his version of the bible later this month on April 23.
“The process of registering my church is on course. It will be done after we launch the bible,’’ he said.
There are 10 houses in the large compound which makes up his homestead. All the houses are similar; each with a kitchen, bedroom and sitting room.
“This is the biggest and main homestead. I stay here with 10 wives and their children,’’ he said. His other wives live in Trans Nzoia and Kakamega counties; there are 14 in Lugari and 12 in Kitale.
One of the houses at the “main homestead,” which is also the headquarters of the congregation is used as the church office. Wanyama explained that his oldest child is 53 years while the youngest is one and a half years old.
“I must provide for all of them as their father and husband. I visit those who are not here. In fact after this interview I am leaving for Lugari,” said the prophet.
The entire family meets at the Bukembe homestead twice a year in June and December for a family get together.
The father figure practices subsistence farming on a five-acre piece of land to feed his large family.
“I don’t have any other job. My work is to serve God. I don’t receive a salary or allowance. I just depend on my five acres of land for food to feed my family,” he said.
He employs stringent cost-cutting measures to ensure he runs the affairs of his church within his means. For example, the scriptures are written in exercise books which have been carefully stored away in cartons.
He is able to retrieve the books easily whenever they are needed. His wives serve as ushers in the church.
“I have been given orders by God as his prophet to come up with this bible. What is contained in the bible is holy scriptures and God’s teaching,” he said.
Sometime during the interview, Wanyama would be unable to explain some of the scriptures he has written instead contradicting himself.
Wanyama said he has not had a formal school-based education. The bible is written in simple Swahili language.
“I have never stepped in any school. No one can come out to say we were classmates. I have been busy for all these decades working for God,’’ he said.
A multi-coloured flag is hoisted in the middle of the compound and surrounded by 12 stones. He explained that the stones signify the 12 commandments he has formulated.
“The colours of the flag represent the world. God gave me the order to reverse the flag and surround it with 12 stones,’’ he explained.
The wives
During the interview, The Standard on Sunday spoke to three of his wives. All of them claimed the family struggles to make ends meet because the work their husband does has no salary.
Alice Wanyama, 64, is the fifth wife and a mother of 12 children. She says the family’s five acres of land is too small to sustain the large family.
Alice, who has been married to Wanyama for more than four decades, says that members of the family are forced to take up casual jobs for their upkeep.
“The man of the homestead stays at home and waits for the women to fend for the children. He only concentrates on church matters,’’ Alice said.
She said some of the children are unable to continue with their college education due to lack of school fees.
“When we lack food we just sleep. Sometimes we sit here to attend to visitors who come to seek prayers,’’ she stated.
Catherine Nalonja, 38, and a mother of four, runs a grocery kiosk in the homestead as a way of earning a living to cater for her children.
“I sell fruits to visitors who come to seek payers from my husband. My co-wives and children also promote this business. I need to find ways to get cash because the family piece of land is not enough for all of us,’’ she says.
“Challenges are part of life. We may lack food owing to our large number but not always.’’
Jackline Wanyama, 27, the youngest of the 36 wives and a mother of two, says she supports her husband’s church work. She says her husband gets meals from the different houses.
“I support his ministry work and he plans how he visits every house. I have been married to him since 2010 and I look forward to many more years with him,’’ she said.
Jackline and Catherine revealed that they met their husband when they had come to seek prayers in his church.
The three wives told The Standard on Sunday that the prophet visits them on different days.
The disciples
Followers of Prophet Wanyama are happy when he prays for them..
Emmanuel Simiyu, one of his disciples, says 16 years ago he came to seek prayers and since then his life changed for the better.
“I was very sick and doctors failed to diagnose what I was ailing from. But after meeting the prophet and he prayed for me, I recovered,” he said.
Simiyu is convinced people will read and benefit from Wanyama’s new bible whose first book is Haggai.
“We hope the government will assist us publish the bible written by the Prophet and distribute it freely. For 16 years we have been rewriting it,’’ he added.
Another follower, John Mukhalisi, has been a member of the church for 11 years. He also says he was prayed for by Wanyama and received his miracle.
“I used to be a Quaker but I changed. I was referred to the Prophet by a neighbour when I was very sick. My tithe was a chicken and I received my healing. His teachings are biblical and those doubting his work have not met him,’’ he said.
