New twist as Victor Kanyari claims Nairobi Senator Sonko conned him Sh500,000

The drama surrounding self-styled prophet, Victor Kanyari is far from over.

Kanyari, who was recently exposed in KTN for 'extorting' money from worshippers in his church, has come out fighting by sensationally claiming that he too has been a victim of Nairobi con game. He alleges that Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko, conned him Sh500,000. But in a swift rejoinder, Sonko has dismissed these claims asking the pastor to produce evidence.

"I know him and a lot of other bishops but I have never done business with anyone of them. If Kanyari says I conned him, let him come forward with evidence," he said.

Sonko also condemned rogue pastors and has asked the DPP to investigate them.

“We know them but many people fear exposing them. I would like the DPP to investigate men of God who perform fake miracles.”

The Nairobi Senator also took a swipe at men and women of cloth who join politics claiming they should be banned.

In what appeared like an attack directed at Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, the senator said Wanjiru should concentrate on gospel and forget about politics.

“She is a church leader yet instead of preaching, she is busy bad-mouthing her opponents for political mileage. I wonder what example she is setting for her followers,” Sonko said of the bishop, who was CORD’s flag-bearer for Nairobi senatorial position in the last elections.

But Kanyari stuck to his guns and accused the senator of conning him.

Kanyari says: “He told me a prominent family was looking for someone to pray for them at a cost of Sh24 million.”

“True to Sonko’s word, the following day, I received a call and a meeting was set up. I was in town along Tom Mboya and within 30 minutes, a Land Rover came for me. I parked my car and got into a GK Land Rover driven by a man in military uniform,” Kanyari narrates. “But instead of heading to the venue in Muthaiga, we drove toward Muthaiga,” he added.

“But soon after we were instructed to first go to Sonko’s KICC offices, where he insisted on getting his cut upfront. In the meanwhile, I was getting numerous calls from people claiming they were anxiously waiting for me,” Kanyari said, adding that, “I offered him my car as collateral, but he refused. So, I went to town and raised Sh500,000 from friends. After receiving the cash, Sonko told me to wait in the Land Rover at the parking lot.”

Kanyari says that there was no Land Rover at the parking and when he went back to Sonko’s office, the senator’s security barred him from accessing Sonko. “I was conned, but I take full responsibility for being gullible,” he claims.

The pastor says he reported the incident at the KICC Police Post but the officers did not believe him.

“They wanted to arrest me for maligning the name of the senator,” he said. “Anyway, I have forgiven and forgotten the incident. Sonko and I are now friends but I am very careful around him. Sh500,000 is a lot of money my brother,” says the ‘prophet.’

 Efforts to reach Bishop Wanjiru for comments were futile.