Mary Sinaida Akatsa (1964-26 October 2024) was a pioneer of Kenyan Pentecostal ministries and a prophetess. She was a charismatic preacher who founded a prophetic healing independent church, Jerusalem church of Christ.
Prophetess Mary Sinaida Akatsa | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1964 Ebusiralo, Bunyore |
| Died | 26 October 2024 (aged 59–60) |
Burial place | Kawangware |
| Occupation | Gospel Minister |
| Spouse | Francis Akatsa |
Early life, marriage and family
editAkatsa was born in 1964 at Ebusiralo village in Bunyore in the current Vihiga county, Western Kenya.[1] Her parents were Stanley Jogoo and Veronica. Akatsa's mother died in childbirth and she was raised by her maternal grandmother. Akatsa begun schooling at Itabalya primary school. She only studied up to the third grade and dropped out of school. Akatsa was employed as a house-help on a farm in Kikuyu and later married Francis Akatsa.[2]
Ministry
editIn 1985, Akatsa was a charismatic preacher who founded a prophetic healing independent church, Jerusalem church of Christ. She enforced discipline among her congregants by use of a cane.[2][3] Akatsa healed the sick, the lame and those struggling with infertility.[1][2]
Akatsa achieved national and international recognition in June 1988 when she claimed to have brought Jesus Christ to her congregation in Kawangware. She was known for her philanthropic acts of using harvests from her farms to feed church members and the underprivileged.
Akatsa remained active into the 2010s.[4]
Later life
editReferences
edit- 1 2 Nandi O.M.Jacob (1993). The Jerusalem Church of Christ: A Prophet-Healing Independent Church in Kenya. (MA Thesis, University of Nairobi, Kenya). p. 39
- 1 2 3 Mwadosho, Shillah (2024-10-28). "Mary Akatsa: Maisha na Nyakati za Nabii wa kike wa Nairobi Aliyemleta "Yesu" Kawangware - Tuko.co.ke". kiswahili.tuko.co.ke (in Swahili). Retrieved 2026-06-25.
- ↑ Mwaura, Philomena Njeri (2007). "Gender and Power in African Christianity: African Instituted Churches and Pentecostal Churches". In Kalu, Ogbu (ed.). African Christianity: An African story. Africa World Press. p. 417. ISBN 1592215807.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ↑ "Prophetess Akatsa leads 'miracle' march". The Standard. 2013-11-15. Retrieved 2026-06-29.
- ↑ Kweyu, Collins. "Self proclaimed prophetess Mary Akatsa is dead". The Standard. Retrieved 2026-06-29.
- ↑ "Life and times of Mary Akatsa, the controversial 'prophetess' who would beat up her followers". Daily Nation. 2024-11-02. Retrieved 2026-06-29.
- ↑ "'Prophetess' Mary Akatsa buried in church compound to keep off land grabbers". Daily Nation. 2024-11-17. Retrieved 2026-06-29.