A pastor from Umoja Village in Lugari Sub-Location of Lugari Sub-County, Kakamega County, who had claimed in 2020 that he had been cured of Covid-19 through prayers, has committed suicide.
Joseph Makokha alias Mukorino, a religious man devoted to the African Church of the Holy Spirit, is said to have taken poison yesterday and died while receiving treatment at Lumakanda County Hospital, contrary to their belief that a sick person should not be taken to hospital.
Makokha had made controversial claims in 2020 that he had been healed through prayers after ‘getting infected with Covid-19’.
Makokha said he developed symptoms of the then dreaded disease after visiting Turbo, Matete, and Kakamega. That was during a time when the whole country was under strict Covid-19 guidelines to curb the spread of the virus.
“I felt a strong headache and a severe cough accompanied by high body temperatures and difficulty in breathing the evening I arrived home from Kakamega. I never suspected the symptoms to be related to Coronavirus until when the government announced the first case in the country (on 20th March 2020),” a confident Mr. Makokha claimed.
His controversial claims were supported by his religious godfather, Mr. Shadrack Mdogo, a senior priest at the African Church of the Holy Spirit, who told the Western Kenya Times, by then Lugari Daily, that he and other church elders had prayed for Makokha until he ‘received treatment’.
“I (even) prophesied about Covid-19 long before it was first reported in Kenya. I can pray for those suffering until they get well, ” Mr. Mdogo said.
Mr. Makokha’s claims led to his summoning and thorough interrogation at Franks Police Station in Lugari. He was later released after being warned against spreading misinformation about the virus.
Makokha’s mental health
A close relative revealed that Mr. Makokha, popular for the business of buying and selling maize, has been suffering a mental health problem.
“He has been struggling with a mental problem until he decided to take poison and died while receiving treatment at Lumakanda County Hospital,” the relative said.
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Makokha’s church and modern medicine
Makokha’s church doesn’t advocate for medical attention whenever one falls sick. Faithfuls believe that healing is bound to their faith in the scriptures. That stands out as the reason why Joseph Makokha never sought medical attention to ascertain the nature of his mysterious condition.
“I have never consulted medical care since 1955. Whenever I develop an illness I just pray and consult God and I recover. I believe God is the one who heals,” Shadrack Mdogo had said.
Sam Oduor is the editor-in-chief at the Western Kenya Times who leverages the power of the Internet in telling stories that shape opinions.
