Pastor Victor Kanyari, also known as Bishop Mwangi, has addressed the controversy surrounding his previous call for followers to send money in exchange for blessings and miracles.
Speaking recently at his Salvation Healing Ministry church in Nairobi, Kanyari admitted that the ‘mbegu ya 310’ (seed of 310) appeal to his followers was not intended for the promised miracles but rather as a means for him to overcome poverty.
“Mimi ndio nilikuwa mhubiri anaongea Nairobi, hakukua na mwingine. Kina Ezekiel na Ng’ang’a hawakuwa, mimi ndio nilikuwa naongea hii town. Lakini sikuwa na pesa, ndio maana nikaanza kuitisha (Ksh)310. Nikasema panda mbegu ya 310 na tusibishanebishane. Si kutaka kwangu, umaskini ulikuwa umenitandika sawasawa,” Kanyari confessed.
“Nikaanza kuitisha 310 my friend, lakini sikujua Mungu alinipatia akili na maarifa, pesa nitajitafutia. Mungu alinipa annointing, lakini haikuwa annointing ya pesa. Ilikuwa ya kuponya watu magonjwa,” Kanyari added.
The preacher went on to declare that he is currently wealthy, owning several cars, some of which he has no parking space for. He also mentioned that his children attend good schools.
In 2014, KTN’s investigative desk, Jicho Pevu, exposed how Kanyari was deceiving his followers with fake miracles, all meticulously orchestrated behind the curtains of his church. Kanyari would exploit these fabricated miracles to convince his followers to send him Ksh 310 every time they sought prayers.
The revelation led to Kanyari’s public fallout, and it contributed to his separation from his then-wife, singer Betty Bayo. Despite being at the peak of her singing career, Bayo distanced herself from her husband’s actions.
