Elijah Masinde: Why colonialists hated Dini Ya Msambwa founder

Elijah Masinde. (Courtesy)

Elijah Masinde was a Bukusu activist and prophet who was born around 1910-1912 in Kimilili, Bungoma County. He was the founder of one of Kenya’s most radical anti-colonial religious movements which, not only united various communities, but also shifted their mind-set against the colonial masters.

Masinde was a passionate footballer. He even played at the professional level. He represented Kenya at the CECAFA Cup in 1930. Some people claimed that there was a time he kicked the ball, which went up and never came back. His supporters believed the ball went to heaven.

Masinde’s other calling was in religion. He regarded himself as a seer. During his youth, Masinde grew up under Christian missionaries and worked for them as a “process server” attached to the native court. The missionaries also gave him a plot on their land where he built a house and lived.

However, his decision to marry a second wife was not taken lightly by the missionaries. The missionaries could not entertain the idea of polygamy and so they sent Masinde packing. Besides, he was stopped from partaking in the Holy Communion.

This made him rebel against the missionaries as well as the colonial government. He first shifted to the Anglican African Israel Church before splitting to form Judah Israel Church. He later established Dini ya Msambwa. Masinde would regularly sojourn to Mt Masaaba, Sangalo Hills and Maeko Hills for his religious pilgrimage.

The Dini ya Msambwa founder inspired his followers and his Bukusu clansmen to rebel against white settlers whom he accused of using religion to suppress Africans.

Despite being imprisoned by the colonialists for his defiance and activities, he continued being resistant and always agitated for equal rights for citizens and land distribution. Masinde regularly came into contact with white administrators and most of the time, confrontations ensued.

At one point, Masinde engaged in a physical fight with a colonial administrator for refusing to kneel when asked to do so.

Elijah Masinde died in 1987 aged 75. His contribution to fighting for the liberation of Africans against colonial rule is well noted.