Pastor James Ng’ang’a has sparked a fresh debate online after asking members of his church to contribute KSh 1,000 each towards his upcoming overseas trip.
The outspoken preacher made the remarks during a recent sermon at Neno Evangelism Centre. He told congregants that every member was expected to bring the money on Sunday to help pay for his flight ticket. According to reports, he described the contribution as mandatory and warned those who failed to give.
Ng’ang’a also explained why he was asking the congregation for money despite having the financial ability to pay for the trip himself.
“Si kwamba sina, lakini nisipokuitisha sitakuwa nakubariki,” he said, meaning that it was not because he lacked money, but because asking members to contribute was connected to the blessings he wanted them to receive.
The pastor revealed that he had recently sold two plots of land for KSh 6 million. This raised questions among some Kenyans, with many wondering why he needed financial support from his congregation after receiving millions from the sale of property.
Ng’ang’a, however, appeared to view the contribution differently. He told his followers that their giving would help bring blessings to them and their children. His comments quickly attracted attention after a video of the sermon spread across social media.
Some social media users questioned the demand, especially the suggestion that people who did not contribute would miss out on blessings. Others defended the pastor, saying members should decide for themselves whether they wanted to support their church leader.
The latest controversy adds to Ng’ang’a’s long history of making outspoken statements about money, faith and church matters.
The preacher has previously attracted public attention over his church property in Nairobi. In 2024, he told Parliament that he had bought the land where Neno Evangelism Centre stands and said he paid KSh 42 million for it.
In 2025, Nairobi County also waived a reported KSh 10 million land-rates bill linked to the church after discussions with county officials.
For now, the KSh 1,000 demand has become the latest topic involving the pastor to generate strong reactions online. While Ng’ang’a says the contribution is linked to blessings, many Kenyans continue to debate whether church members should be required to contribute towards a pastor’s personal travel expenses.