This archive report was first published on 25 November 2019.
On a typical Sunday, the Neno Evangelism Centre in Nairobi's CBD is packed with worshippers eager to feed on the sermons of Pastor Ng'ang'a, a popular televangelist.
However, beneath the surface of his charismatic preaching lies a troubling history of abuse and bullying. In August this year, male congregants from his church accused the pastor of using abusive and demeaning words to refer to them.
According to a demand letter circulated on social media, the congregants gave Ng'ang'a a two-day ultimatum to apologize, citing instances where he referred to them as cows, insinuating that they were foolish.
But Ng'ang'a's troubles don't stop there. Three years ago, he was charged with dangerous driving after his car collided with another at Manguo, Limuru, killing Mercy Njeri, a passenger in the vehicle. Ng'ang'a denied culpability and was later acquitted, sparking anger among Kenyans who accused police of bungling the case.
That same year, his estranged wife, Ms Loise Murugi, sued him for full custody of their child, citing infidelity, drunkenness, and abuse. In court documents, Ms Murugi stated that Ng'ang'a was a drunkard and very abusive towards her, to the extent of insulting her parents.
Despite these allegations, Ng'ang'a's church remains popular, with worshippers flocking to his services every Sunday. But what keeps them coming back? Is it the theatrics or do they really believe that he is a man of God with all the answers to their problems?
On a recent Sunday, the Nation team attended Ng'ang'a's service, which turned out to be a day-long ceremony where worshippers are not allowed to leave before the service is over. And certainly not before the offering.
As we observed from the upper deck, the crowd was filled with men and women sitting side by side like obedient pupils during a lesson. Pastor Ng'ang'a himself was already on the pulpit, preaching with fervour and confidence.
But it was during the testimonies session that things took a disturbing turn. Eleven men and women walked to the front, all of them wearing reflector jackets, an indication that they had been pre-selected for that purpose. They gave shocking details of who they had been before Pastor Ng'ang'a rescued them, including one who claimed to have commanded a snake with seven heads.
As we watched, Pastor Ng'ang'a made fun of some of them, and made remarks that suggested that they were to blame for their own problems. He even asked a woman who narrated how her children had been sent away from school for lack of fees,
