In a bizarre twist of faith and fanaticism, a self-proclaimed Jesus from Bungoma, Kenya, has reportedly taken refuge after locals allegedly planned to crucify him this Easter. Prophet Eliyu Simiyu, who has made claims of being the Messiah, found himself in a perilous situation when it came to light that some residents of Bungoma County harbored intentions to test his divinity in a most extreme manner – by replicating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as described in the Bible.
The reports indicate that Prophet Simiyu discovered the unsettling plans and, fearing for his safety, approached the police to file an official complaint. Facing a literal cross to bear, the man who has been calling himself the “Jesus Christ of Bungoma” sought the protection of the authorities as the Easter season drew nearer.
In the Christian tradition, Easter commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus, with the crucifixion being a central event. The locals, seemingly unpersuaded by Simiyu’s divine claims, reportedly expressed that if he truly were the Messiah, he would rise on the third day post-crucifixion and ascend to heaven, just as Christ did according to the Scriptures.
The underlying irony of the situation did not escape the online community, as social media users made both concerned and humorous comments. One user inquired, “Have the residents identified the two thieves yet? It has to be real you know,” referencing the two criminals who were crucified alongside Jesus. Others seemed to support the idea of putting Simiyu’s faith to the test, with remarks like, “Surely we must test his faith like the way Jesus Christ was tested.”
Prophet Simiyu, who leads the New Jerusalem sect, has previously made bold claims about his abilities to perform miracles, including turning water into tea, a modern take on biblical miracles. However, this claim to divinity has brought him not only followers but also significant risks, including the current threat of crucifixion.
Mr. Simiyu was born in 1981 to Francis and Cecilia Simiyu. Sadly, he lost both of his parents at a young age. Raised in the Catholic faith, he attended Mukuyu Primary School in Tongaren, Bungoma County. Despite starting his education, he discontinued his studies while in Form One at Mukuyu Secondary School to become a farmer. At the age of 20 in 2001, he entered into marriage and eventually became a father of eight children. His eldest son is currently enrolled in a technical college in Kiambu County, while his second-born daughter is preparing to attend university.
In 2009, Mr. Simiyu was involved in a family altercation during which he suffered a head injury. He was promptly taken to the hospital by concerned neighbors. Following his recovery and discharge from the hospital, he found solace in preaching.
Relevant articles:
– Man who declared himself Jesus runs to police after locals vow to crucify him on Easter day
– Self-proclaimed ‘Jesus Christ’ runs to police station as locals allegedly plan to ‘crucify’ him, Pulse Ghana, Wed, 08 Mar 2023 08:00:00 GMT
– Kenyans want to crucify Bungoma ‘Jesus’ to see him resurrect himself like Jesus Christ, OpIndia, Wed, 08 Mar 2023 08:00:00 GMT
– Bungoma ‘Jesus’ in a fix as Easter season approaches, Nairobi News, Thu, 02 Mar 2023 08:00:00 GMT