A woman from Busia County, Judith Nafula, has stirred public debate after declaring that she has been divinely chosen to be the new “Mary, mother of Jesus.” Nafula says she received the calling after a supernatural experience involving a bright light and a voice identifying itself as Christ, sent by God in search of Mary.
She described the encounter:
“A light descended from above, and a voice came from within saying it was Christ sent by the Father to find Mother Mary. When I responded that I didn’t know who Mary was, the voice told me I was the one—that the truth had been hidden, but the time had come for it to be revealed.”
Nafula, who left the Catholic Church, added that she had previously spent two months on a mountain receiving divine messages meant for Kenyans.
Her husband, John Wekulo, expressed shock upon learning of her revelation but later claimed that he too had been chosen to play the role of Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. Some family members also backed Nafula’s claims, saying she had performed healing miracles.
However, not everyone has embraced her assertions. Some locals have accused her of using dark powers, questioning the authenticity of her alleged miracles.
This incident emerges amid ongoing national discussions about regulating religious institutions. In April, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced that the Cabinet would soon review recommendations from a taskforce led by Rev. Mutava Musyimi. The taskforce suggests legal reforms to address religious extremism and better regulate churches in Kenya.
Murkomen emphasized that while religious freedom is respected, the government would crack down on groups exploiting vulnerable believers or promoting harmful doctrines. This follows a recent incident in Migori, where two people died and others were rescued after refusing medical treatment due to extreme religious teachings.
