Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma is calling for immediate legal action against Apostle James Ng’ang’a of Neno Evangelism Centre, following a shocking incident that has triggered public outrage across Kenya.
A now-viral video shows the controversial preacher slapping a male congregant during a live church service—an act that has been widely condemned as abusive and humiliating.
In the disturbing footage, Pastor Ng’ang’a walks up to a man seated in the front row of his church, chastising him for allegedly dozing off during the sermon. Without warning, Ng’ang’a strikes the man across the face—twice—before commanding him to move to the back of the church.
“Wake up! Go sit at the back,” Ng’ang’a is heard barking, as stunned congregants watch on.
His reprimand doesn’t stop there. Turning to a woman seated next to the man, the visibly irate preacher demands to know why she failed to wake him. The woman, clearly startled, explains that she was deeply focused on the sermon and hadn’t noticed.
Her response earns her a similar punishment—relocation to the back. When she attempts to defend herself by saying, “Everyone should carry their own cross,” Ng’ang’a briefly relents. “Alright, you’re forgiven,” he says, before continuing his message.
The incident has ignited a firestorm online, with many Kenyans expressing shock, disbelief, and anger.
“That’s someone’s father. What if his children were in the room watching him being slapped like a child?” asked one concerned X (formerly Twitter) user.
Another wrote: “This is not just dramatic, it’s dehumanising. The man made an effort to attend church—he could have been anywhere else. Maybe he’s tired from work or going through something.”
Some reactions took a more sarcastic tone. “Slapping a fellow man in front of the congregation and the church laughs?” one user joked. Another quipped, “Is this a church or a classroom with a deputy headteacher?”
Amid the uproar, MP Kaluma has come out strongly against the preacher’s actions. In a statement shared on his official platforms, Kaluma called the assault “a gross violation of human dignity” and urged law enforcement agencies to act swiftly.
“I urge any person ever assaulted by this man—or who has witnessed such abuse—to report to the nearest police station,” Kaluma said, adding that victims could also contact him directly for legal assistance.
Kaluma further appealed to the Office of the Registrar of Societies to intervene, warning that continued tolerance of such behaviour within religious institutions threatens public trust and safety.
While Apostle Ng’ang’a has long been known for his theatrical and unfiltered preaching style, this latest incident has pushed many to question the limits of pulpit authority.
