Kenyans on social media react to KTN's Jicho Pevu programme exposé

Kenyans on social media are up in arms after KTN's Jicho Pevu programme exposed a pastor in Nairobi who has been fleecing his congregation.

Pastor Victor Kanyari of the Salvation Church Ministries was caught on camera coaching his staff on what to say to lure unsuspecting Christians into believing in the various miracles they could receive in his church if they attended service and offered a particular amount of money.

The televangelist, who insists on being referred to as Dr Prophet Kanyari, was caught with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar asking his staff to lie on his behalf with claims of being cured of diseases such as HIV and cancer.

Betty Bayo, a celebrated gospel artiste, took to what is believed to be her Facebook page after the exposé saying: "Anything that is unholy, anything that is ungodly, anything that contradicts my faith. Anything that mocks the God who got me from the wilderness and humble beginning, and raised me for His glory; I'd rather die than be part of it."

LIGHT MOMENT

Twitter users or Kenyans on Twitter (KoT), as they are commonly known, made a light moment of the issue saying maybe it would be best if the pastor registers the church under the Agriculture ministry given he was always asking his congregation to plant seeds (money).

Boniface Mwangi, a well-known freelance photojournalist and activist, took to his Twitter handle condemning not just the pastor, but his staff for agreeing to give false testimonies and those who helped him acquire fake identification cards to register different phone lines.

A KoT using the handle @dnahinga asked if the exposé proved that hope could be packaged and sold, with another asking people to read the Bible to avoid being deceived by fake prophets and preachers.

One user under the handle @michukipn said: "Television stations are making a kill from televangelists. They are partakers of the panda mbegu (plant a seed) money."

Some Kenyans said some of his members would still go back to the church. "#JichoPevu and the #insidestory should go back this Sunday and see how many fools are still attending Kanyari's church," said a Twitter user under the handle @geoffreyochieng.