Kenyan media personality Lynn Ngugi has found herself in a delicate position after interviewing a former member of a church reportedly linked to a self-proclaimed ‘Prophet Elijah.’
The interview, which went viral after its release on January 23, featured Josephine Lwal, a water and environment engineer, who spoke candidly about her experience within the church, which she described as a cult.
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Josephine’s Revelations Josephine shared that she joined the church during her university years but began noticing troubling “red flags” as she ascended the leadership ranks. She recounted strict rules imposed on members, such as mandatory dress codes and restrictions on associations.
“We were required to dress in a specific way to stand out, and this attire was expensive,” Josephine revealed. “Even when I was struggling financially, the cheapest regalia cost Sh5,000.”
She also highlighted how the leader adopted grandiose Biblical titles like “The Almighty,” “Most Exalted,” and “Mightiest Prophet,” which she found manipulative.
“The man of God started taking on titles like Abraham, Elijah the dreadful prophet, and Moses,” Josephine said. “We were taught that his miracles meant he was always right and even had to sing songs affirming that this man and his God were right.”
Control Through Fear and Isolation
Josephine explained how members were subtly isolated from the outside world, including being required to listen exclusively to a specific radio station.
“We were told that listening to the station pleased the kingdom of God. It consumed your time and subconsciously isolated you,” she noted.
Fear was another tactic allegedly used to control members. She recalled warnings of eternal damnation for those who left the church.
“When I left with a group, the pastor warned us that certain things would happen to us. Some friends even messaged me, saying, ‘Come back, or you’ll go to hell.'”
Josephine criticized the excessive defense of the church leader, stating, “If someone is truly a man of God, let God defend him. We defended him more than we defended God.”
Public Reaction and Speculation
The video has garnered over 500,000 views, sparking widespread debate. Social media users have shared mixed opinions, with some recounting similar experiences and others condemning the church’s alleged practices.
While Lynn and Josephine did not explicitly name the church or its leader, many online speculated they were referring to the Holiness and Repentance Church led by Prophet David Owuor.
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Efforts to Silence the Video
Following the interview’s growing traction, Lynn claimed that the church leader instructed his followers to report the video in an attempt to have it removed from YouTube.
“The ‘Mightiest Prophet’ has directed his followers to report the video we posted. Interestingly, no names were mentioned, but the guilty always fear exposure,” Lynn remarked.
She further questioned the leader’s reliance on his congregation to manage the backlash, adding, “If he’s truly a miracle worker, why not perform a miracle to erase the video from YouTube?”
Ongoing Conversations on Religious Practices
The interview has sparked discussions about the influence of religious leaders and the practices within certain churches. While some have praised Lynn for exposing the issue, others have accused her of targeting a specific religious group.
