Pastor James Maina Ng’ang’a, the founder of Neno Evangelism, has announced his decision to quit the controversial social media platform TikTok.
The vocal preacher cited the ongoing controversies surrounding fellow pastor Prophet Victor Kanyari as the main reason for his departure.
Kanyari has been at the centre of several online controversies, pushing the boundaries of what many consider appropriate behaviour for a man of God. Some critics have described his actions as “power chasing”.
The most recent uproar occurred during a Sunday service when a TikToker, Faith M Peters, shocked the congregation by presenting Kanyari with an unexpected gift: condoms, panty liners and petroleum jelly.
She then declared her love for Kanyari, who accepted the gifts and unwrapped them on the pulpit, sparking mixed reactions from the audience.
In another incident, Kanyari addressed the sensitive issue of sexuality by inviting Mpenzi Chokuu, a gay Kenyan TikToker living in Germany, to join his live TikTok session.
These actions have drawn considerable criticism and concern from the religious community.
Pastor Ng’ang’a told Nairobi News that he was dismayed by Kanyari’s behaviour and revealed that his efforts to intervene were met with hostility.
“I sent Kanyari a message telling him that what he was doing was not right. He went on TikTok and told people that I had sent him a message. He said he would not stop. He is no longer in God’s system. He has the mind of man. He just wants money. The same spirit he had during the 310 scandal has come back in a different way. Some of the things he says, even a drunkard couldn’t do that,” Ng’ang’a said.
Ng’ang’a described Kanyari as a proud man who resisted correction.
“When I came to Nairobi, he was a great man and I even preached in his church in Kawangware. He is cut off from God and it is difficult to pray for him or even counsel him because he is so proud,” he said.
Disgusted by what is happening, Ng’ang’a has decided to leave TikTok altogether.
“I have decided to leave TikTok myself. I don’t want to see this. I even deleted the application from my phone. I can’t keep up with this nonsense. There is so much immorality, and I don’t want to carry a burden in my soul. TikTok is like a demon. Why do people want to make money at this rate?
Ng’ang’a’s advice to Kanyari is to stop embarrassing the church and destroying his destiny.
“If he continues, he may not come back. The devil will give him glory now, but after a short while he will disappear,” Ng’ang’a warned.
Nairobi News contacted the controversial pastor, who explained that his motives for joining TikTok were not for personal gain, but to save more souls.
“Hakuna kitu nasema haisemwi hii dunia. (All I have said has been said) I am sure even some pastors watch worse content. What I am doing is just agreeing to go down to the level of these filthy content creators to try and understand what they are going through. I am spreading the word of God and winning more souls,” said Kanyari.
By Nairobi