Willy Mwangi, the man seen in a widely circulated video being slapped by Pastor James Ng’ang’a of Neno Evangelism Centre during a church service, is now calling for justice and compensation. He says the incident has left him emotionally wounded, socially ridiculed, and financially crippled.
Mwangi, a small-scale coffee vendor from Dandora, says the assault occurred while he was attending an overnight prayer service in search of spiritual encouragement. Instead, he found himself at the center of a humiliating spectacle.
“I went to church seeking blessings, not violence,” Mwangi told a local content creator on Saturday, May 24, 2025. “I was slapped without warning or explanation, just because I had dozed off. That slap has cost me my dignity, my customers, and my peace.”
He claims the event has had a ripple effect on his life — customers have stopped buying from him, and strangers mock him in the streets.
Rumors have also spread that he was paid to keep quiet, something he strongly denies.
“People think I was given money, but that’s a lie,” Mwangi said. “Ng’ang’a didn’t give me a single shilling. He only gave me a suit and a pair of shoes. That’s not compensation — it’s a cover-up.”
Now fearing for his safety, Mwangi says he has no protection, no income, and no clear way forward.
“Ng’ang’a has security. He has money. I don’t. My life is now in danger, and all I want is justice,” he added.
Mwangi is also upset that the pastor used his image online without permission. According to him, photos and videos from the incident were shared across social media platforms to gain traction and entertain viewers, all at his expense.
“He turned my suffering into content. He posted me everywhere — Facebook, TikTok — and I didn’t agree to any of it. My pain became his publicity,” he lamented.
Mwangi firmly denied claims that the confrontation was staged, saying there was no plan or prior discussion. He believes the pastor’s gesture of offering him clothes was merely meant to mislead the public.
“He told me to take the suit so people would think he had settled the matter. But it wasn’t an act, and it’s not okay. I want this followed up by the authorities. My business is in ruins, and my name has been dragged through the mud.”
In the viral footage, Pastor Ng’ang’a is seen approaching Mwangi during the service, slapping him in front of the congregation, then throwing him out of the church while uttering insults.
Mwangi says he wants accountability — not just for himself, but to stop such acts from happening to anyone else.
