Elijah Masinde was an anti-colonial religious leader believed to have been a prophet by the Bukusu people of Western Kenya. In numerous religions, including Abrahamic religions, Jah religions, Sikhism, and many forms of Paganism, a prophet is an intermediary with a deity, particularly someone who speaks for the deity or interprets the deitys will or mind. ... Bukusu is one of the seventeen sub-tribes of the Luhya Bantu language and cultural group of East Africa. ...

Early Life

Elijah Masinde was born about 1910 in Kimilili, in what is now Bungoma district of Kenya's western province. As a young man, Masinde was a decent footballer, and he captained the the Kimilili football team. He also played for Kenya against Uganda in 1930. But even at this early age, the local chief, Amutallah, is reported to have thought Elijah Masinde was mad.

Life as a leader

At a district meeting held about 1943, Masinde is said to have closely and aggressively questioned a colonial representative, thus enhancing his status as a local leader. A number of clashes followed with the colonial administration, until he was imprisoned in 1944. While in jail, he formed the Dini Ya Msambwa (Sect of the Spirit) after interpreting the Old Testament to mean that a Black Jesus would come to liberate Africans from colonial bondage. Upon release, Masinde preached all over western Kenya and managed to get a large number of followers among the Luhya and Pokot communities, the latter mainly from the Rift Valley. Luhya (Luhia) (Abaluhya) is a group of Bantu languages spoken in the western part of Kenya by about 5 million people residing between Lake Victoria, Uganda and Mount Elgon. ... In geology, a rift valley is a valley created by the formation of a rift. ...

When Kenya got independence in 1963, Masinde's life became more difficult. He was detained by the government of Kenyatta, and was only released after Daniel arap Moi came to power in 1978. Masinde died in 1987 and was buried in Kimilili. Jomo Kenyatta (October 20, 1892?–August 22, 1978) was an African politician, the first Prime Minister (1963–1964) and President (1964–1978) of an independent Kenya. ... Daniel Toroitich arap Moi (born September 2, 1924) was the President of Kenya from 1978 until 2002. ...