Controversial televangelist Pastor James Ng’ang’a of Neno Evangelism Church is once again at the centre of public outrage following the emergence of a viral video in which he is seen slapping a congregant during a church service.
The one-minute clip, widely circulated on social media platforms, captures Pastor Ng’ang’a walking up to a male congregant who appeared to have dozed off during a sermon. In a swift and shocking move, the preacher slaps the man, hurls insults at him, and subsequently ejects him from the service.
The video has provoked widespread condemnation from Kenyans across the country, including members of the political class, with many calling for immediate action against the controversial pastor.
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Among those leading the call for accountability is Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament George Peter Kaluma. Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday evening, Kaluma strongly condemned Ng’ang’a’s actions, describing them as an outright violation of human rights and an affront to the sanctity of worship.
“This is so bad! Kenya needs to prosecute and stop characters like Ng’ang’a, and to deregister ‘churches’ like Neno Evangelism, whose leader openly abuses worshipers, before we witness another Shakahola-type massacre,” Kaluma stated.
The MP further urged the government to deregister the Neno Evangelism Church, warning that unchecked behaviour from religious leaders like Ng’ang’a could lead to disastrous cult-like scenarios similar to the Shakahola tragedy, which claimed hundreds of lives in Kilifi County.
In the video, Pastor Ng’ang’a is also seen confronting a woman who was seated next to the ejected man, questioning why she allowed him to sleep. Although the woman defended herself, saying she was concentrating on the sermon and hadn’t noticed, the pastor threatened to evict her too before eventually relenting.
This latest incident adds to a long list of controversial moments involving the pastor. Earlier this year, Ng’ang’a came under heavy criticism after publicly humiliating Milka Moraa, a female church member who approached him for help to pay rent. Instead of assisting her, the pastor told her to find cheaper housing if she couldn’t afford rent, a statement that was widely viewed as lacking compassion.
Public discourse continues to intensify, with civil society groups, human rights activists, and religious leaders weighing in on the need to regulate rogue preachers whose conduct undermines the spiritual and emotional safety of worshippers.
As of now, no official statement has been released by Pastor Ng’ang’a or representatives of Neno Evangelism Church regarding the viral video.