Traditionalist who declared himself ‘Son of Man’ dies

Reports indicate that Wa Magoto who was quite advanced in age, died on the evening of Monday, March 20, in Murang’a County.

Wa Magoto presided over the Mihiriga Kenda Muiyuru (The Nine Clans of the Agikuyu), a cultural group, whose beliefs and ideologies had swept through Mt Kenya communities like wildfire.

So influential were the group’s teachings that in early 2020, just before the country was shut down due to Covid-19, then Nairobi Catholic Archbishop, Cardinal Njue issued a pastoral letter warning the group was a major threat to the Christianity.

Mihiriga Kenda calls on Gikuyus to embrace their cultural identity, shun Christianity, 'for that is where their salvation lies'.

Wa Magoto was a traditional healer (Mundu Mugo), who was reputed to communicate with departed ancestors, who would pass on information to the living, regarding what was ailing their lives.

Courtesy of his unique form of fortune telling, many people claimed that they had been healed of diseases like cancer, hypertension and diabetes.

Through his teachings, Wa Magoto told his followers that problems currently affecting them could be traced to unsettled bride price for their parents and grandparents.

When people consulted him, through consultation with departed relatives, many would be advised on the outstanding bride price.

Wa Magoto’s teachings did not sit in well with the Church which accused Mihiriga Kenda of being a cult that worshiped the dead. Matters came to a head when Kikuyus started leaving the church in droves, prompting Cardinal Njue to issue the pastoral letter.

Wa Magoto lead a mysterious life at his Murang’a shrine. It is alleged that no photos or videos existed of the man before early 2021. His followers fondly referred to him as Guuka (grandfather), perhaps in reverence to his advanced age.

He had awarded himself a number of titles, including Muuru wa Mundu (Son of Man). He also liked referring to himself as King of the Agikuyu, and would appear on subsequent media interviews wearing a crown.

Prior to a 2021 interview he did with a local station, Wa Magoto’s age was a matter of intense speculation, with some of his followers claiming that he was 150 years old.

However, during the said interview, Wa Magoto said that he was born in the early 1920s, claiming that during the Mau Mau fight for independence, he was with the fighters in the forest as their spiritual guide.