My date with William Wanyonyi, the self proclaimed god, had been a long time coming, reason being last month, while in Bungoma county My editor Joe had assigned me the mission to look for Wanyonyi. His supposed residence at the time was thought to be Mt. Elgon, but being a guy who is always on the move, still searching for a safe haven, Wanyonyi had relocated to Uasin Gishu, some five years ago.
A month later, as we head off to Uasin Gishu County , my editor Joe insists the search for Wanyonyi was still on. You many not believe it but honestly the thought (being a Christian and a staunch one) wasn’t one bit exciting but to my inquisitive mind, it was no doubt thrilling and like we are told we journalists are jacks of all trade aren’t we?
So at 8.am Sunday the 13th of March, I and my cameraman Ng’ang’a, set off in search of Wanyonyi at Chemororoch, village some 40 kms away from Eldoret town. With the tarmacked road, the journey to Chemororoch was smooth, save for the last one km, where we divert to find Wanyonyi’s home.
We were kind of certain we are on the right track but just to be 100%, we stop some two people for confirmation on the direction and turns out Wanyonyi’s quite popular in fact the residents here simply refer to him here as ‘Jehovah’ .
This is how our conversation goes:
Mnajua Kwa Wanyonyi?
Eeeeeh mnamaanisha Jehovah?
Finally we find our way there and from a distance we spot a red flag hoisted high up and that is the clearest indication that that is no ordinary homestead. As we slowly make our way to the compound , kids swarm the vehicle and as we get out of the car out a lady comes rushing towards us as if telling us this is the furthest you can go..
We later learn that she’s one of Wanyonyi’s many wives (he is said to have 20-25). We introduce ourselves and tell her we want an audience with Wanyonyi . She is hesitant saying that the media has been trashing and belittling Wanyonyi.
Since the home is not enclosed, I notice the man himself at a far corner of the homestead seated high up on his throne. His homestead is made up of several huts, grass thatched and we can tell his is one large family kids run around as women go about their chores.
We manage to convince her to plead our case for an interview, which she does and what follows is simply shocking. We watch in amazement as she walks towards him and kneels to ask for our request, which by the way he declines, at least that what she tells us.
Our plan B however works, when she gives in to our request for pictures only . And while the camera rolls, its simply baffling why and how a people could be taken advantage of or how certain human beings can manage to take control of and brain wash others .
At the residence, they keep kneeling for Wanyonyi, whose confidence and authority can almost be smelt from a distance.
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