The late Mary Sinaida Akatsa.
Mary Sinaida Akatsa, the Kawangware-based prophetess, who died on October 26 left bags of cash stashed in her house, Nation.Africa has learnt.
The bags of cash have since been taken away by her siblings and family lawyer and the money deposited in a bank.
Thomas Wilberforce, a Nyumba Kumi elder who witnessed the police carrying bags from Akatsa's home, said the siblings who took the money were accompanied by a family lawyer.
“The money was collected by police officers and a family lawyer…[who] collected it and deposited it in a bank. I saw a first bag, a second and a third before I got distracted,” said Mr Wilberforce.
Fondly known as "Dada Mary", Akatsa lived in a simple house in low-income Kawangware estate where the money was found, but her sons lived in the upmarket Karen estate.
Ezekiel Asava, who is chairing the committee planning Akatsa’s funeral, said that although the sons lived away from their mother, they would visit.
“She lived alone. Her sons would come by only if needed,” says Mr Asava.
He said the prophetess owned several parcels of land in Nairobi and other properties in Vihiga and Lugari counties, besides the land in her husband's rural home.
Self-proclaimed prophetess Mary Sinaida Akatsa of Kawangware’s Jerusalem Church of Christ (left) and a member of her church in this picture taken on October 6, 2013.
“I used to bring her the harvest. She has a big farm in Lugari where I grew crops and delivered maize here," said Mr Asava, saying he was tasked with overseeing farming.
Akatsa founded the Jerusalem Church of Christ in the 1980s, attracting more than 6,000 followers. Located in Nairobi’s Kawangware 56 area, it has four branches in Vihiga and Kakamega counties. Followers are currently holding meetings for burial arrangements and as well as searching for another prophet or prophetess.
One of the ways Akatsa made money was through registration fees. According to Margaret Nasa Wambua, a former member of the church, the founder asked members to register by paying a fee.
In the early 1990s, each follower registered with only Sh20. A card would then be issued showing the person was a church member.
“According to my membership card, I was number 360, after paying the fee. Those who joined later paid more, besides the regular offerings in church,” said Mrs Wambua.
A member who sought anonymity said the church money was to help the needy, adding that the prophetess also got funding from donors and friends.
“Registration fees went up. The money was to help fund church activities,” he said.
