Government Scrutiny Would Severely Impact Branhamite Message Cults - Shakahola Forest Massacre Investigation

As the death toll passes 237[1] with over 600 persons missing in Paul Mackenzie's "Malindi Cult" sect, Kenya's government began pushing for stronger regulation of "rogue" churches that threaten the lives of many people in Kenya. Mackenzie lured several of his followers to their deaths by suicide through starvation and dehydration by convincing them (and allegedly forcing them) to fast[2] in order to escape what they claimed to be an impending religious persecution, tribulation, and ultimately the End of Days. According to homicide detectives on the scene, Mackenzie did so using William Branham's theology.

Mackenzie brainwashed his converts using William Branham's End of Days theology, and convinced them that starvation could hasten their escape from this life to be with Jesus[3]
- Homicide Detectives in Kenya

As the investigation continued, it became known to the public that Mackenzie was eating; his abuse of theology and usage of Branham's predictions did not seem to apply to himself[4] — a common theme among "Message" cult churches. Even Branham himself ignored his own theology, pushing themes of asceticism and avoidance of "the things of the world" (a list of extra-biblical rules that Branham both invented and copied from others). Branhamite followers were very surprised to learn that William Branham and his family had expensive jewelry, swimming pools, televisions, fancy cars, and other "worldly things" that were strictly forbidden in the "Message".

Opinion articles in Africa recognize the problem with the Latter Rain movement's children and grandchildren. Articles describe leaders in the splinter groups of the "Message" as "They were hysterical and illogical in a manner that confirmed the necessity of pruning wayward religious groups."[5] As they spread into Africa, many of the sects slip under the radar by operating as unregistered "churches". Recently, a Branhamite "home church" was raided by Kenya officials for operating their church illegally.[6] Some of them continue to grow until they are given mainstream status, yet in their early stages, use mind control techniques on their members.[7]

Many will come posing quite innocuously. Yet you'll sense something is terribly wrong with them when they suddenly start styling themselves as Prophets or reincarnations of Jesus Christ, or even God himself. Their hypnotised followers believe them instantly. In dealing with these deviants, the constitutionally mandated freedom to worship should not be treated as open-ended. We have certain misfits who use the name of God, but there's nothing holy about them. The authorities must not feel inhibited in cracking down hard. Tighten the registration rules for religious groups. Make them stringent. Don't fall to the demand for self-regulation. With these extreme outfits, that will never work. Let's strengthen the office of the Registrar of Societies to regulate denominations and weed out the rogue ones. Insist that each preacher has proper training in theology. Deregister the fraudsters who peddle bogus miracles and those who preach the fake 'prosperity gospel'.[8]
- Nation Africa

While government regulation of the Latter Rain Movement's various splinter groups and sub-groups might be helpful, it would seem like an impossible task to achieve. No two splinter groups agree on doctrine, most deny their own history, almost all groups conceal that history from their members, and tracing their origins and affiliations requires extensive research and correcting deceptive authors of history. Even within the Branhamite's core "Message" branches, leaders of each splinter group reject the idea that other leaders of other branches are "Message believers". Due to the internal conflicts in the theology of William Branham's ever-changing and evolving stage persona, each splinter group believes they have the "absolute truth" while other splinter groups are "now part of the world" and/or not true Branhamites.

Yet the separation is just as strategic as it is religious. When any specific leader, radicalized by Branham's End of Days theology, goes rogue and creates a national (or international) tragedy, the other leaders simply declare members of that branch to be "unbelievers". Those leaders, not unlike their counterparts in other branches, are labeled as "heretics" — even though their foundation (Branham's Latter Rain theology) is shared either in full or in part.

Gitau Warigi writer for Africa's Nation paper, labels these extremists as "Christian jihadists". They are nothing more than rogue preachers seeking unsuspecting victims to lure into an extremist version of Christianity.

What immediately struck me was that these Christian jihadists don't want to understand there's a big difference between a church, a sect and a cult. There are about 40,000 registered ‘churches' in Kenya — a frighteningly large number which even much bigger countries don't have.[9]
- Gitau Warigi

Regardless, government regulation would be both helpful and necessary. It would severely impact Branhamite "Message" cults. Through regulation, these rogue churches would be required to declare their affiliation. No longer could they slip under the radar undeclared, and when a radicalized sect self-destructs, groups of similar affiliation would take notice. By design, it would cause members (cult victims) to critically think about where they are, what they believe, and the dangers associated with that belief system.

Read the full article here:
https://nation.africa/kenya/blogs-opinion/opinion/empower-the-registrar-of-societies-to-weed-out-religious-cultists--4241746

References

[1] Kithi, Marlon. Shakahola massacre: Two skeletons push death toll to 237. The Standard. Accessed. 2023, May, 21. Standardmedia. Accessed 2023, May, 21 from https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001473331/shakahola-massacre-two-skeletons-push-death-toll-to-237. "2023/21/05 Kithi, Marlon. Shakahola massacre: Two skeletons push death toll to 237. The Standard. Accessed"

[2] Kithi, Marlon. Shakahola massacre: Two skeletons push death toll to 237. Accessed. 2023, May, 21. Standardmedia. Accessed 2023, May, 21 from https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001473331/shakahola-massacre-two-skeletons-push-death-toll-to-237. "2023/21/05 Kithi, Marlon. Shakahola massacre: Two skeletons push death toll to 237. Accessed Makenzi, of Good News International Church, is said to have lured his followers to death, through starvation and dehydration, in the name of religion. Some of those who died were children after they were allegedly forced to fast and pray with the hope of meeting Jesus Christ Makenzi, of Good News International Church, is said to have lured his followers to death, through starvation and dehydration, in the name of religion. Some of those who died were children after they were allegedly forced to fast and pray with the hope of meeting Jesus Christ."

[3] Mackenzie: Cult leader who led legions to death. Accessed. 2023, Apr, 28. Pd. Accessed 2023, Apr, 28 from https://www.pd.co.ke/news/mackenzie-cult-leader-who-led-legions-to-death-178492. "2023/28/04 Mackenzie: Cult leader who led legions to death. Accessed"

[4] Kithi, Marlon. Shakahola massacre: Two skeletons push death toll to 237. Accessed. 2023, May, 21. Standardmedia. Accessed 2023, May, 21 from https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001473331/shakahola-massacre-two-skeletons-push-death-toll-to-237. "2023/21/05 Kithi, Marlon. Shakahola massacre: Two skeletons push death toll to 237. Accessed But all this time, Makenzi is said to have been eating. He reportedly told his followers that he would, in the end, also starve himself to death to meet Jesus But all this time, Makenzi is said to have been eating. He reportedly told his followers that he would, in the end, also starve himself to death to meet Jesus."

[5] Warigi, Gitau. Empower the registrar of societies to weed out religious cultists. 2023, May, 21. Nation. Accessed 2023, May, 21 from https://nation.africa/kenya/blogs-opinion/opinion/empower-the-registrar-of-societies-to-weed-out-religious-cultists--4241746. "2023/21/05 Warigi, Gitau. Empower the registrar of societies to weed out religious cultists"

[6] Wangari, Stephanie. Police Arrest 5 Suspected Cult Members in Nairobi Church. The Standar. 2023, May, 7. Police Arrest 5 Suspected Cult Members in Nairobi Church. Accessed 2023, May, 8 from https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/nairobi/article/2001472464/police-arrest-5-in-cult-like-church-in-nairobi. "2023/07/05 Police Arrest 5 Suspected Cult Members in Nairobi Church. The Standar Police officers from Kabete Police Station have cordoned off a residential plot with an unregistered church in Uthiru, Nairobi County. The church is believed to be teaching doctrines of American Christian minister and faith healer William Marrion Branham. Branham, who died in 1965, is claimed to have initiated post World War II healing revival and was allegedly a prophet with the anointing of Elijah of the old testament Bible. Five people have since been arrested. The five are; David kariuki mwangi (Deacon), Pascal Mutua, Joseph Githinji Mutiga, John Kamau Mbugua and Ruphas Kirangu Stephanie Wangari Police officers from Kabete Police Station have cordoned off a residential plot with an unregistered church in Uthiru, Nairobi County. The church is believed to be teaching doctrines of American Christian minister and faith healer William Marrion Branham. Branham, who died in 1965, is claimed to have initiated post World War II healing revival and was allegedly a prophet with the anointing of Elijah of the old testament Bible. Five people have since been arrested. The five are; David kariuki mwangi (Deacon), Pascal Mutua, Joseph Githinji Mutiga, John Kamau Mbugua and Ruphas Kirangu."

[7] Warigi, Gitau. Empower the registrar of societies to weed out religious cultists. 2023, May, 21. Nation. Accessed 2023, May, 21 from https://nation.africa/kenya/blogs-opinion/opinion/empower-the-registrar-of-societies-to-weed-out-religious-cultists--4241746. "2023/21/05 Warigi, Gitau. Empower the registrar of societies to weed out religious cultists Many sociologists note that these cult leaders exercise some toxic form of mind control on their followers, which leads them to behave abnormally. New religions are sometimes described as cults until they gain mainstream status. Many are generally benign, unlike the dangerous ones which cause havoc in society Many sociologists note that these cult leaders exercise some toxic form of mind control on their followers, which leads them to behave abnormally. New religions are sometimes described as cults until they gain mainstream status. Many are generally benign, unlike the dangerous ones which cause havoc in society."

[8] Warigi, Gitau. Empower the registrar of societies to weed out religious cultists. 2023, May, 21. Nation. Accessed 2023, May, 21 from https://nation.africa/kenya/blogs-opinion/opinion/empower-the-registrar-of-societies-to-weed-out-religious-cultists--4241746. "2023/21/05 Warigi, Gitau. Empower the registrar of societies to weed out religious cultists"

[9] Warigi, Gitau. Empower the registrar of societies to weed out religious cultists. 2023, May, 21. Nation. Accessed 2023, May, 21 from https://nation.africa/kenya/blogs-opinion/opinion/empower-the-registrar-of-societies-to-weed-out-religious-cultists--4241746. "2023/21/05 Warigi, Gitau. Empower the registrar of societies to weed out religious cultists"