'Prophetess’ Mary Akatsa buried in church compound to keep off land grabbers
The casket carrying the body of Jerusalem of Christ Church founder Mary Akatsa during her burial ceremony on November 16, 2024. She was buried within the church compound.
What you need to know:
- The decision to bury Akatsa in Kawangware was to protect the land, which some individuals had been eyeing.
- Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who is also the family’s lawyer, pledged to ensure Akatsa's property remains secure.
The founder of the Jerusalem of Christ Church, 'Prophetess' Mary Sinaida Akasta, was laid to rest on Saturday in the property hosting her church in Kawangware, Nairobi County.
Earlier plans were to bury her in Western Kenya, but her family later chose the Kawangware site in the interest of a piece of land hosting the church whose ownership she had been fighting to retain.
According to the political leaders who spoke at the event that was attended by thousands, the decision to bury her in Kawangware was to protect the land, which some individuals had been eyeing.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who is also the family’s lawyer, pledged to stand with Akasta’s sons, David Jogoo and Moses Sangolo, to ensure her property remains secure.
Mr Sifuna recalled meeting the prophetess (fondly known to her followers as Dada Mary or Mami) before he became Nairobi Senator. He credited Akatsa's prayers with helping him overcome challenges during his campaign.
“She visited my office, prayed for me, and shared her struggles. She always ensured my flight tickets from Nairobi to Kakamega were taken care of until I managed to sort things out,” Mr Sifuna said.
However, Mr Sifuna said, some people targeted the 'prophetess' after the 2022 elections, attempting to seize her property in Nairobi and elsewhere.
The senator said before Akatsa's death, they had gone to court twice, and the prophetess had entrusted the legal case to her youngest son.
“She called me that day and told me, ‘You have been my guide; now hand the case over to the young man.’ She asked me to oversee the case from above, and to honour her wish, I want to assure you all that Sifuna will always stand with Mami’s family and protect the land that God blessed her with,” Sifuna said.
The Senator encouraged Akatsa’s congregation to find a new leader to fill the prophetess’s role and unite them.
“God has taken the one who delivered our prayers to Him. Now we ask God to provide us with another prophet,” said Mr Sifuna.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who was also in attendance, promised to educate 50 young Kenyans in honour of Akatsa.
Former Gatina Ward Representative David Ayoi said there had been attempts by fraudsters to take away the Kawangware 56 land where Akasta built the Jerusalem of Christ Church.
He said burying her body within the property would deter those keen on grabbing the land.
“She held my hand, saying, ‘They want to take my land away from me; they’ve taken others back home.’ She sacrificed everything and handled all matters,” the former MCA recounted.
“Mami called me after plans to seize her land were underway, so I sought the help of Senator Sifuna. Burying her here in Kawangware is to safeguard this land. We will bury Mami here to establish that it belongs to her. We will support her children and ensure the church continues” Mr Ayoi said.
Some of the mourners who attended the burial ceremony shared testimonies of how the late Akatsa helped them during her lifetime.
Mr Samuel Kobe, a police officer, recounted how Akasta rehabilitated him from a wayward life of promiscuity and alcohol abuse. He said Akatsa also helped him join the police service.
“I was born here and raised in this village. When I was a youth, my life was bad and Mami prayed for me. She later helped me to join the police service. After completing training, I was posted to the arid region. I returned to share my experience, and she made me 300 chapatis to take with me,” Mr Kobe recounted.
He added that the prophetess continued praying for him and he eventually earned several promotions.
“Every time she prayed for me, I got a promotion. I have also visited more than 20 countries,” Mr Kobe said.
Another follower, Ms Veronica Marachi, was among the more than 40 police officers who attended Akasta’s funeral. Marachi, introduced as a station commander, paid glowing tribute to Akatsa for uplifting her family.
Ms Marachi said Akasta ensured her family acquired a piece of land in western Kenya.
“Thank you, Mami. Our family was looked down upon by many people. Now, I am a station commander, and we are living on the land Mami bought for us,” Ms Marachi said.
According to family members, Akatsa was born in 1964 in Bunyore. She began her education in 1967 Etabalia Primary School but dropped out in Standard Six at.
Mary Akatsa was married to the late Francis Akasta and she is survived by two sons.
