Prophet Owuor’s thanksgiving stirs Eldoret residents

By Michael Wesonga

Kenya: Televangelist Dr David Owuor’s national thanksgiving meeting at the Eldoret Sports Club was a sight to behold.

Friday afternoon, the prophet’s diehard followers lined up on either sides of the road on major streets in Eldoret leading to the venue to receive the ‘mighty prophet of God’ as he is commonly referred to.

But this was after an early morning labour intensive scouring of the tarmac roads with water powder detergent provided by the Eldoret fire brigade department, an act that threw many residents in limbo.

When time finally came, the preacher made his way into Eldoret town on Friday evening heralded by an outrider followed by several other police trucks that drove all motorists off the road as his entourage used both lanes. He was met with ululation, cheers, whistling and sounds from vuvuzelas that continuously rented the air. 

Motorists along the usually busy Uganda Road that forms part of the highway found it hard to brace through the human traffic that had clogged the roads in total disregard of ordinary order. Even the Police Department was in agreement that it had been a tough weekend because the large crowds meant they had to be extra-vigilant.

‘Holy beef’

The craze spilled over to Saturday, where the prophet made a triumphant entry into the stadium accompanied by Uasin Gishu Deputy Governor Daniel Kiprotich and Kapseret Constituency MP Oscar Sudi and a contingent of security chiefs. “But I can assure you that there is adequate security because I am aware there are several plain clothed colleagues on the prowl just in case anything crops up,” he explained. The prophet arrived to a red carpet reception fitted in what has become his white trademark suit. He climbed onto the decorated podium and began pronouncing healing.

“This time there will be no prayer because the glory of the Lord is already here and therefore people will just be healed because that is what the Lord told me,” he clarified.

Followers waved the white handkerchiefs amid cheering as various testimonies of what God had done began to flow to the podium from people who were lame, bedridden for months among other cases.  It took the coordinated effort of the National Youth Service, the Administration Police and Prison warders to keep the surging crowds in check.

Even the prophet himself was amazed by the turn-out at one point through the ceremony alluding to it.

“When I was told that they were going to use this ground, I was surprised and I thought are they daring Jehovah, but he has filled it. Who else can fill such a stadium,” he asked in amazement.

This went on with people flowing into the stadium by the minute. Various men in suits kept watch of the attendees, either hand frisking or using metal detectors - not taking chances at all. “I think we should stop giving out the soda first before hearing the miracle, lest they say we are giving them energisers,” he ordered, perhaps to prove that his miracles are real.

The televangelist has previously engaged in ‘a holy beef’ with Bishop Margaret Wanjiru of Jesus is Alive Ministries, accusing him of using energisers to fake miracles.

Entrepreneurs on the other hand erected stands by the roadside a few metres off the stadium, cashing in from the event by selling all manner of merchandise including vuvuzelas, whistles, handkerchiefs and foodstuff to the fanatics.