Months of bizzare calls to Nairobi News on how to join illuminati
A poster widely shared on social media last August purporting to recruit members into a secret society commonly referred to as “illuminati” has unexpectedly triggered months of bizarre phone calls to the Nairobi News desk.
The poster, which subsequent investigations by Nairobi News—a popular website of NMG— revealed as a scam, promised new members a “guaranteed” cash reward of $300,000 (Sh30 million) immediately they join, to supposedly “reorganise their lives in order to fit the class and status of the club members”.
That’s not all. New members were promised a new car valued at $120,000 (Sh12 million), a new house, one-month holiday fully paid, one-year golf membership, VIP treatment at all airports, “total lifestyle change” and one-month booked appointment with top five world leaders and top five celebrities in the world.
SWINDLER
But there was a catch: The swindler asked potential members to part with Sh15,000 as registration fee.
Inquiries done by Nairobi News established that the number where new members were required to send the money was registered under one Tonny Kimanthi.
However, in a phone conversation, he referred to himself as Brother Mark.
“Once you send the money we will give you more information. And we have a meeting tonight,” said “Brother Mark,” claiming their offices were based near a city hotel.
But despite the Nairobi News article raising the red flag on the poster purporting to recruit people to a secret society — real or fictitious — generally associated with evil powers and mysterious accumulation of wealth, the NMG news desk phone and e-mail contacts provided at the end of the article have prompted an unexpected reaction since last year.
JOIN ILLUMINATI
Tens of people have either deliberately or mistakenly been calling the line seeking information on ways to join illuminati.
The standard response of the Nairobi News journalists has rightly been to inform the callers that it was the wrong number and they could not help with any such information.
But with some callers insisting on continuing the conversation, and the increasing number of calls, the story has taken an interesting twist. What is baffling is that most of the callers are willing to “do anything” to get rich – including offering human sacrifices— with some saying they were “desperate” to join illuminati.
Collins, 19, who said he was calling from Kericho County indicated he would even offer a family member, if asked to, in exchange for wealth.
“I am a Form Four leaver currently doing odd jobs where I make Sh200 a day,” he said.
PHONY RECRUITERS
A small-scale trader in Mombasa who gave her name as Jane has called the line more than 10 times begging to be inducted into the “movement”. She said in the past, she had been conned Sh2,000 by phony recruiters but she believed this was credible—despite being informed it was a scam.
“Maisha huku ni ngumu. Mimi ninataka shida iniondokee (Life out here is tough. I want to be rich),” she said, adding she was willing to do anything to be recruited.
It was no different for Mark of Kitengela who disturbingly admitted that he would offer his brother to join the “movement”.
“Mnataka kama nani hivi? Brother si anatosha?” he posed unashamedly.
Many callers were dismissed after saying what they wanted—but the calls have not stopped coming.
Prof Halimu Shauri a sociologist at Pwani University argues that Kenya is at metaphysical –the second stage of societal development after theological.
SUPERNATURAL POWER
“Under theological (the first) stage, success is attributed to a supernatural power like God. People then quickly transition to a stage called metaphysical where everything is attributed to forces such as witchcraft and magic. That is why so many people are willing to join illuminati,” he said.
He added: “Most societies take time to move from this stage onto the third and final one –the scientific stage, where everything is attributed to certain causes. For instance, I’m poor because I’m lazy.”
For his part, Mr James Mbugua, a counselling psychologist at the African Nazarene University, argues that it all depends with the role models in a society.
“In Kenya, you decide to follow the proper road but you see other people using the wrong side and arriving faster. So, you also decide to join the wrong side,” he said.
“When leaders send expired drugs to hospitals, they are as bad as these people willing to sacrifice their loved ones for quick riches. As a society, we need to re-look at our set up and reward merit, not nepotism or tribalism.”
MURDER OF ALBINOS
Prof Shauri cites the murder of albinos in Tanzania and bald men in Mozambique as examples that societies are normalising bizarre means of acquiring wealth.
One of the most little understood movements, illuminati is characterised as an elite organisation of world leaders, business authorities, innovators, artists and other influential individuals the world over.
Originally founded in the 1700s in Europe to oppose State oppression, superstition and religious influence, the movement has undergone a complete metamorphosis in the modern society.
Alongside the Freemasons, another secretive organisation, illuminati has historically been vilified as a movement of devil-worshippers.
Unlike Freemasons who have buildings and officials, it is unclear if illuminati actually exists in Kenya or if it is just a figment of the imagination.