Kenyan songstress Nadia Mukami has voiced her disappointment over viral video pastor Victor Kanyari where he was recorded praying for TikToker Sammy Owiya, aka Mpenzi Chokuu, during a TikTok live session..
“That PST Kanyari video is cringe!! Kuna limits ya madhabahu. Hii content creation iwe na mipaka jamani! If not for the respect of the church and our religion, but for the fear of God! Madhabahu hayachezewi!!”
Kanyari’s dramatic prayer included a mix of religious and military jargon, invoking divine intervention.
“In the name of Jesus, ndo huyu Mungu anashuka, Malaika wanashuka kung’oa hiyo sehemu ya siri..rudisha ile sehemu ya siri ilikuwa (In the name of Jesus, here comes God descending, angels are descending to remove that private part…restore the private part to what it was,” Kanyari prayed),” Kanyari prayed.
“Fire! Guruneti ya kwanza ndo hiyo. Nataka kuingia kwa AK 47. Guruneti ya pili..fire! In Jesus name..halafu twende kwa mbazuka…AK 47 ndio hiyo…the blood of Jesus…tu tu tu tu tu…choma! Piga risasi! (Fire! That’s the first grenade. I want to go in with the AK 47. The second grenade…Fire! In Jesus’ name… let’s go to the explosion…that’s the AK 47…the blood of Jesus…tu tu tu tu tu…burn! Shoot!)”
Another TikToker known as Peter Kioi has also asked Kanyari to create boundaries with people he meets online while reminding him that he is still a pastor.
“Stop allowing people to come and disrespect the church. Can you tell me now, what will you give God? Fear God. When it comes to Chokuu, I can say you really went overboard, you joked too much, and you made it look like it is now the real you, yet it was content,” said Kioi.
“It would have broken my heart. No woman likes to see her man at the pulpit and then see another woman come online and start claiming him as her babe. Put limits, you may think people love you, but they want to pull you down,” he added.
How far is Kanyari willing to go to grab attention?
In two recent incidents that have gone viral, Kanyari has pushed the boundaries of what some consider appropriate online behaviour, particularly for a religious leader.
First, came the incident that shocked many. During a Sunday service, a female TikToker named Faith M Peters presented Kanyari with a gift that left everyone speechless: condoms.
Peters’ offering also included panty liners and petroleum jelly. She then surprised the congregation further by professing her love for the recently-single pastor.
Kanyari, clearly tickled by the situation, accepted the gifts and even unwrapped them on the pulpit, sparking a wave of mixed reactions.
Some praised Peters’ boldness, while others criticized her lack of decorum in church.
Second, was the now infamous “exorcism” attempt. Kanyari tackled the delicate topic of sexuality with a bizarre performance aimed at “changing” a gay TikToker named Mpenzi Chokuu.
Chokuu, known for his flamboyant style, was dressed in a buibui, a traditional long robe when Kanyari launched into his act.
The “prayer” was a perplexing mix of religious pronouncements and military jargon, with Kanyari shouting “fire!” and referencing grenades and machine guns.
Chokuu playfully added to the theatrics, vigorously shaking his behind in response to Kanyari’s mock exorcism.
While some viewers found it humorous, others condemned the perceived disrespect for religion.
These two episodes perfectly illustrate Kanyari’s talent for generating controversy, and this time, he’s doing it on the ever-popular TikTok platform
According to Kanyari himself, his motivations for joining TikTok are not about personal gain.
“Joining the platform is not going to make me rich if I’m not already rich,” he said in a previous interview. “I joined TikTok because I noticed that it is mostly the younger generation and I wanted to reach out and save some lives. There are a lot of tragedies and I think we can make a difference. There are a lot of drug addicts on the platform and I hope to help and guide them.”
Kanyari has also addressed the inevitable criticism that follows him.
“No pastor has faced as much criticism as I have,” he stated. “If you were to live my life for just one day, you wouldn’t be able to withstand the amount of hate I receive. That’s why I won’t let trolls stop me from doing what I want. I’ve become immune to the negativity and hate.”
