- Pastor Victor Kanyari roasted nyama choma during a Sunday service in Nairobi.
- The act was captured on video, showing congregants cheering as he shared the meat.
- Supporters called it a “communal blessing,” while critics termed it disrespectful.
- The move has reignited debate on church regulation under the Religious Organisations Bill, 2024.
- Kanyari defended his actions, saying his ministry promotes joy and unity.
Controversial televangelist Pastor Victor Kanyari has once again sparked national conversation after roasting nyama choma, Kenya’s traditional barbecued meat, on the altar during a Sunday service at his Salvation Healing Ministry church in Nairobi on October 12, 2025.
Viral videos from the service show Kanyari grilling meat inside the church before distributing it to jubilant congregants, calling the act a “communal blessing.”
The spectacle mirrored a similar scene last month when he roasted a chicken during a service, which also ignited online debates.
While some of his followers praised the gesture as a symbol of generosity and togetherness, critics condemned it as a desecration of the altar and a publicity stunt aimed at attracting attention.
Religious leaders and scholars have linked the move to the rising trend of the prosperity gospel, where performance, entertainment, and faith often blend to appeal to mass audiences.
The incident has reignited discussions surrounding the Religious Organisations Bill, 2024, which aims to regulate churches and faith-based groups in Kenya amid concerns of abuse, manipulation, and commercialisation of religion.
Many Kenyans online expressed frustration that controversial preachers continue to operate unchecked despite previous scandals.
Pastor Kanyari, who has faced past criticism over alleged fake miracles and financial impropriety, defended his actions, saying his ministry’s message is rooted in joy, unity, and divine provision.
He insisted that roasting meat in church was a symbol of sharing and fellowship, not a mockery of the sacred space.
The latest incident adds to Kanyari’s long list of controversies and highlights the fine line between faith and spectacle in Kenya’s modern religious landscape — a line the outspoken pastor seems unafraid to cross.
