Pastor Escapes death Twice, Looses Voice

Friends who are supporting Pastor Jackton Mcberu as he seeks medical treatment to cure severe injuries that have rendered him almost voiceless , after he suffered two back to back mugging attacks in the dark streets of Riruta Satellite, a Nairobi, Kenya suburb.From left to right is Rev. John Wesonga of International Faith Outreach Ministry in Springfield, Tom Atimbo, Tony Akenga, McBeru, Harold Akenga and Robert Odanga. pic by H.Maina/Ajabu

By Harrison Maina
Ajabu Africa News

SPRINGFIELD, Mass._ FEBRUARY 10_In a flash of a second, Jackton Mugallo McBeru was whipped up and suspended in air with a hard piece of wood pressing painfully against his throat. He felt a thousand fingers wiggling in his every pocket before the excruciating pain became too much to bear.

McBeru could no longer feel the ground after his head was pushed back with the help of a hard piece of wood, giving him a feeling of hanging upside down and suspended in the air.

As McBeru gasped for air, while the tall shadowy man suspending him applied more pressure, he started seeing stars in the late evening sky, moving rapidly and violently crashing with each other as he lost consciousness.

“The next thing I heard was some distant voices of people saying, “Oh, Karibu Wamuue, (Swahili for, Oh, they almost killed him), said the 53 year old evangelist with an extremely strained voice during an interview with AjabuAfrica.com at the International Faith Outreach Ministry in Springfield, Massachusetts.
 
“When I regained consciousness, I felt a lot of pain in my neck and head. I must have been knocked out for about two hours,” added McBeru.

He immediately realized that finally, the thugs had caught up with him and the feared Ngeta procedure was being performed on him in the full view of other passers by.

Ngeta is a violent, neck lock strategy by thugs in Kenya, who usually roam the dark streets of urban areas and slums and in groups, where they swiftly ambush any person walking in the dark alleys.

The victim is instantly immobilized by one of the tall and stronger men in the group using a hard piece of wood pressed against the neck to keep air out of the victim’s lungs so they may not offer any sort of resistance, as the partners in crime rob the victim of cash and valuables from his pockets.

If the victim is tall and strong, then a second member of the group lends a hand to make sure the victim can not resist.

A local butcher shop in Riruta, Nairobi, Kenya.

“Many such incidents end in loss of lives of the victim, but for some divine intervention, my number had not been called up in heaven,” said Pastor McBeru.

Flashes of light occurred in McBeru’s mind as he slowly lost consciousness, wondering why people did not come to his rescue.

“When I regained consciousness, people helped me get up and walked me to my home in Riruta Satellite, a few miles from where the attack occurred.

Riruta Satellite is a working class suburb of Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, not far from Kawangware slums.

Due to the perennial poverty hitting many youths in Kenya, it is common for people to get mugged as they walk home on their way from work.

This time though, McBeru was returning from a crusade hosted by Bishop Pius Muiru at the Uhuru Park in downtown Nairobi.

After the group of thugs mugged him and robbed him of 1,000 Kenya shillings in cash and a wrist watch they left him for dead.

“It was a miracle that I survived,” said McBeru who was a pastor with the Friends Church Ngong Road, Nairobi and is currently visiting the US.

When the man of God reached home, his family was horrified at the sight of their main breadwinner.

“All my clothes were torn; my neck was swollen and covered in dust all over. I could not speak as my voice was gone and I was in too much pain,” McBeru told Ajabu, still straining to talk five years after the incident.

His family brought him to Kenyatta National Hospital, the largest public hospital in Kenya located in Nairobi, where he was treated and given pain killers. He was asked to go home, and assured that he would be fine after a few days.

After the hospital visit, McBeru reported the incident at Kilimani Police station, located in the area.

“The police said there was nothing they could do because muggings happen all the time and they have no way of finding the culprits,” said McBeru.

“I left for home, thankful to God for letting me live to see another day. I recovered slowly after some time,” he said.

But barely two months after the mugging took place, the unthinkable happened again.

As McBeru walked home from a nearby shopping center where he had gone to purchase some groceries, a group of thugs leapt from nowhere and whipped him up. Before he knew it, the Ngeta maneuver had already been performed on him and another group of thugs were chocking him with their hands.

McBeru said he lost consciousness again. He heard a faint voice from afar saying “Tafadhali musimuuee” (please don’t kill him).

“After what seemed to be another two hours of unconsciousness, I heard a voice saying Hii pahali ni mbaya sana”, (This place is very bad),” he said.

It was then that McBeru knew he was not dead, for the second time!

As soon as members of the public helped me get to my home, my brothers went totally mad at seeing that I had been hit with Ngeta for the second time, in the same area.

They vowed revenge but Pastor McBeru prevailed upon them to leave everything in Gods hands.

He went to M.P Shah Hospital and was referred to a private Doctor, a Dr. Sonigra, who did a biopsy which according to her did not reveal a serious problem other than an injured vocal chord and swelling of the neck.

She told McBeru that his injuries would heal shortly and prescribed some pain relief medication before discharging him.

However, months of pain and no voice turned into years, and despite his attempts to get medical help at many hospitals in Kenya, McBeru did not fully regain his voice.

After visiting several doctors, he was told that doctors at MP Shah could not fix the problem, and that there was little anybody else could do.

In the ensuing years, McBeru lost his wife to cancer, rendering him the only breadwinner for the family of seven children and two brothers.

Then in June 2009, McBeru was fortunate enough when he came to the US.

He was hosted by a good friend, Elphas Anzeze and his family. It was at this time that he was introduced to the International Faith Outreach Ministry led by Rev. John Wesonga who introduced him to other Kenyan pastors.

This pastor together with Rev. Joseph Kimatu of PCEA Tumaini Church and  pastor, Rev. Dr. Charles Karanja of PEFA Church in Malden, Mass, were instrumental in facilitating a thorough medical check up for Pastor McBeru at Massachusetts General Hospital.

After a series of examinations, doctors discovered that McBeru has been suffering from lesions on his phalanx, a damaged voice box and a blood clot that went untreated for five years.

Dr. Philip Song, who is treating McBeru, recommended immediate specialized surgery that would restore his voice and heal the internal damage in his neck.
However, Dr. Song was shocked to realize that McBeru may not be treated because he has no health insurance.

This also got McBeru flabbergasted as he realized that in the American system, if you don’t have medical insurance, you may not get any meaningful treatment beyond the regular cold ailments where you can purchase medication over the counter.

Having come to a dead end, McBeru inquired fellow pastors how he would go about the problem. His faith in God kept telling him that anything is possible. Friends assisting him negotiated with the doctors for concessions and they waived most of the fees.

It was then that the pastors advised him to seek the help of the community in coming up with the estimated $20,000 for the cost of the surgery and follow-up treatment expenses.

Pastor Jackton Mcberu , right, in an interview with Harrison Maina of AjabuAfrica.com at the International Faith Outreach Ministry in Springfield, Ma. Mcberu has lesions on his phalanx, a damaged voice box and a blood clot that went untreated for five years.

A fundraising is subsequently planned to take place on Sunday February 28th, 2010 at the International Faith Outreach Ministry located at 45 New Bridge Street, West Springfield, Mass, 01089, starting at 3pm.

“We humbly request all Kenyans and well wishers to come and support this man of God as he tries to get funds to help regain his voice once again,” said Rev. John Wesonga, who will be hosting the fundraising gala.

McBeru is counting on the unity of Kenyans in the US where they help one another in meeting what would otherwise be a mission impossible.

In an interview with Ajabu Africa, McBeru said that he has observed that tribalism amongst Kenyans in America is not as prevalent.

He requests any well wishers to come to his help at this time of need because without his voice, it is not possible to fulfill his calling effectively and even harder to support his family.

“Let us come together and help this gentleman,” pleaded Rev. Joseph Kimatu of PCEA Tumaini Church. Let us provide support to him so that he can talk and spread the word of God effectively once more,” added the cleric.

Other members of the Kenyan community expressed hope that Kenyans will come to the rescue of the man of God who almost lost his life, after attending a crusade conducted by another man of God, Bishop Pius Muiru, who recently visited the US

“I am confident that Kenyans will help us raise enough money for the treatment of the pastor,” said Harold Akenga of Worcester.

Friends and well wishers out of state and those who may be engaged at other things on that day are requested to deposit their donations at:

Bank of America
Checking account #: 004626797977
Account Name: International Faith Outreach Ministry (IFOM) or Jackton McBeru

Fundaraising date : Sunday February 28th, 2010
Venue: International Faith Outreach Ministry
Address: 45 New Bridge Street, West Springfield, Mass, 01089,
Time: at 3pm.

Watch Video Interview below

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