Pastor Victor Kanyari's Sunday services on TikTok are raising eyebrows leaving Kenyans wondering about the church image in Kenya. The controversial figure is once again in the spotlight, this time on TikTok, taking his presence to a whole new level and amusing Kenyans.
Kanyari has been pushing the boundaries of what many consider appropriate online behavior, particularly for a religious figure.
Others call it “power chasing”.
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During a recent Sunday service, a female TikToker named Faith M Peters shocked the congregation by presenting Kanyari with an unexpected gift: condoms, panty liners, and Vaseline. She then surprised everyone by declaring her love for him. Kanyari happily accepted the gifts and even unwrapped them on the pulpit, sparking a wave of mixed reactions.
In another incident, Kanyari addressed the sensitive issue of sexuality by inviting a Kenyan TikToker based in Germany known as Mpenzi Chokuu to his live TikTok session.
Chokuu, dressed in a buibui, participated in a confusing mix of religious pronouncements and mock exorcism led by Kanyari. Adding to the theatrics, Chokuu vigorously shook his bottom in response to the pastor's actions. Many of Kanyari's viewers found these antics disrespectful.
These episodes garnered mixed reactions on social media.
One of Kanyari’s followers commented, “I saw a video of people giving Pastor Kanyari some funny gifts in his church. This is a joke. Content creation should not go there”.
Nairobi News contacted the controversial Pastor, who explained that his motives for joining TikTok were not about personal gain, but about saving 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 even more souls,” said Kanyari.
But how far is Kanyari willing to go to get more attention?
He explained that his church attendance has increased since he started using TikTok with his latest preaching style, going live during his Sunday services.
“Right now I have over 10,000 people watching me live on TikTok every Sunday. That means more people want to know God. TikTok is for fun and people should stop taking things so seriously. My intention is not to make money because even the money I get, I have donated to needy people”.
When asked if his mother, who is also a preacher, had seen his videos, Kanyari said she was a busy woman.
“She does not have access to TikTok. She has nothing to say about the way I preach.”
Preachers are increasingly turning to TikTok for several reasons, including its broad reach and high engagement levels.
TikTok's algorithm facilitates rapid viral spread, offering preachers the chance to reach a global audience swiftly. Short, engaging videos have the potential to attract thousands, if not millions, of viewers, thus amplifying the dissemination of their messages.
Younger audience
Given its popularity among younger demographics, TikTok serves as a valuable platform for preachers to engage with younger generations who may not typically interact with traditional forms of religious outreach.
Cost effective
It's worth noting that creating content on TikTok is relatively inexpensive compared to other forms of media like TV and radio. This makes it an attractive option for preachers and religious organizations with limited budgets.
