MIRACLE OR MIRAGE? KMPDC Blasts Doctors Over “Divine Healing” Claims at Prophet Owuor’s Nakuru Crusade
MIRACLE OR MIRAGE? KMPDC Blasts Doctors Over “Divine Healing” Claims at Prophet Owuor’s Nakuru Crusade
The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has launched a fierce investigation and condemned medical professionals who publicly endorsed faith-based healing miracles at a recent large-scale crusade in Nakuru, warning the public of “grave risks.”
The controversy stems from the “Grand Mega Healing Service,” part of Prophet Owuor’s annual Menengai 8 Revival Meeting held from December 30-31. The event drew multitudes, with many disabled individuals arriving with crutches and others battling chronic illnesses like HIV/Aids and cancer, all hoping for a cure.
Doctors in the Dock
In a strongly-worded statement endorsed and shared by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, the KMPDC expressed “profound concerns” over claims made by certain medical practitioners during the religious crusade. These doctors reportedly attested to the divine healing of serious conditions including cancer, blindness, deafness, and physical disabilities.
“The KMPDC has taken note of recent media reports and public discourse concerning claims of faith-based healing for serious medical conditions,” read the statement signed by Council CEO David Kariuki. It emphasized that all medical treatments “must be grounded in scientific evidence, rigorous testing, and regulatory approval.”
Faith vs. Evidence-Based Medicine
While acknowledging the important role of faith, the regulator issued a stark warning: “relying solely on ‘unverified healing methods’ poses ‘grave risks’.” It insisted that claims of curing life-threatening diseases “require verifiable medical documentation and cannot be accepted without independent verification by qualified healthcare professionals.”
The council confirmed an ongoing probe into the conduct of the implicated medics and vowed to take action upon its completion.
A Clash of Narratives
The condemnation creates a direct clash with the narrative experienced by thousands of attendees. For them, the crusade was a “monumental occasion” where individuals with long-term ailments were declared healed. Prophet Owuor, whose ministry began in Nakuru in the early 2000s, continues to draw massive crowds with this annual tradition.
The KMPDC’s intervention highlights the enduring tension between faith-based practices and the strictures of evidence-based medical science in the public sphere, placing the doctors who bridged the two worlds squarely in the crosshairs of professional scrutiny.
