Daddy Owen narrates how he nearly joined a cult: "I look at her today and my heart drops"

The recent discovery of the Shakahola starving cult in Kilifi County has shocked not only Kenyans but the whole world.

Since last week, homicide detectives have been exhuming the bodies of people in an expansive 800-acre piece of land belonging to Paul Mackenzie, a controversial pastor suspected to be the leader of the deadly religious cult.

So far, detectives have exhumed 90 bodies of members who are said to have been directed to fast to death so that they can "meet Jesus".

But even as Kenyans continue to exhibit anger and condemnation after the shocking discovery, high-profile personalities and government officials have also pronounced themselves on the matter.

'I nearly joined a cult'

Gospel musician Daddy Owen on Tuesday, April 25 narrated how he was very close to joining a cult unknowingly.

In a lengthy post on his Instagram post, Owen said that a pastor approached him when he was young, naïve and gullible. The pastor, Owen says, inquired where he used to fellowship and convinced him to ditch KAG Buruburu, and join his 'church' along Ngong Road.

"Kuingia church niliona wasee wamepiga mbwenya hatari. Kidogo kidogo service ikaanza but weirdly the preaching iko centered around huyu passie. Then he's speaking about investments and why we should invest like him and how he can show us how to make money. Time ya sadaka bahasha zinapita kama tano! Mimi sina kakiru msee, na saa hio wasee wanakimbia mbele kutoa seed ya ngiri chuani!" Narrates Owen.

After the service, Daddy Owen says that the pastor promised to buy him a car. As time went by, he says that things got weirder. "Next ikakua passie lazima ajue who do I communicate with on my phone, mara tunazima simu before service, mara stima zinazimwa! After 2 months bado nangoja gari na kila Sunday nachoma ferare kuingia chachiko ya huyu Ogaa, kila time when I ask about my car napigwa Kiswahili."

Bait to attract followers

Daddy Owen says that he later that the pastor was not interested in his well-being and spiritual nourishment, but was using his budding music career to attract more followers to his 'cult'.

"He was looking for young influential people like me ndiyo akileta wasee wa new anawashow 'u know even Daddy Owen fellowships with us' so I was solely for credibility purposes. Na akipata superstar mzito kukuliko msee unakua relegated ka Norwich unarudishwa kwa viti za nyuma na story za ndae inaisha, na the new superstar ndio anakaa kwa hizo viti za hapo mbele.

"Ultimately, the plan is some are there to be brainwashed and to be lured into this cultic movement hence people like us were baits ama ndowano ya kushika ma big fish!" He adds.

Sadly, Daddy Owen says that three of his friends were lured into the cult. He says that the pastor was able to deceive the three into selling all their property and giving him the proceeds. After all these was done, the pastor flew back to Nigeria leaving them to hang.

Although two of his friends were able to re-discover and establish themselves again, the third person - a lady - sunk into depression. "She was very very successful then, I look at her today and my heart drops."