Pastor Victor Kanyari hosts "nyama choma" service at Salvation Healing Ministry/SCREENGRAB
In a move that has left many Kenyans bewildered, Pastor Victor Mwangi Kanyari of Salvation Healing Ministry hosted a nyama choma session during a Sunday service at his Nairobi church.
A video that quickly went viral on social media showed the usually solemn church pulpit transformed into a makeshift kitchen, where cooks grilled nyama choma inside the worship hall.
The aroma of roasted meat seemingly filled the air as congregants sang praises and danced joyfully.
Kanyari was seen dancing enthusiastically on stage alongside the praise team while the meat roasted in the background.
Reports indicated that the nyama choma was prepared for members who had contributed Sh300 to the church welfare fund, with others enjoying the atmosphere and the tantalising smell from afar.
The unusual service attracted widespread attention, sparking both admiration and criticism from Kenyans online.
Some praised the pastor for fostering a lively and community-focused atmosphere, while others questioned the appropriateness of combining a traditional social event like nyama choma with church worship.
Kanyari, who was born in March 1983 in Loitoktok, Kajiado County, has become well-known in Kenya for his flamboyant and sometimes unpredictable style of ministry.
As the founder and senior pastor of Salvation Healing Ministry, he has frequently courted controversy over the years.
In 2014, he came under intense scrutiny after a KTN investigative report alleged that he orchestrated fake miracles, instructing followers to pay Sh310 as a seed offering with promises of blessings.
This exposé ignited nationwide debate about the ethics of certain religious practices.
In 2018, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) froze Kanyari’s personal bank account as part of investigations into alleged fraudulent activities. Kanyari challenged the freeze in court, claiming the move caused him substantial financial losses, bringing the issue of financial transparency among religious leaders to the forefront.
More recently, Kanyari has embraced social media, especially TikTok, where his unconventional livestreams have often sparked controversy.
On one occasion, he made unusual and sometimes bizarre requests for gifts from viewers, further polarising public opinion.
Despite the controversies, Kanyari has also been involved in acts of charity. He has distributed small sums of money to alcohol addicts and street children in Nairobi’s Mathare slums.
While some hailed this as genuine outreach, critics accused him of staging publicity stunts rather than addressing systemic social issues.
Financially, Kanyari is regarded as one of the wealthier pastors in Kenya, owning a multi-million shilling home and other assets.
The nyama choma service adds yet another chapter to Kanyari’s complex public profile.
His life and career have been marked by significant public attention, both positive and negative, due to his ministry work and personal controversies
