“I Was More Famous Than Raila Odinga”- Pastor Kanyari Defends His ‘Ksh310’ Ministry Legacy

Controversial Salvation Healing Ministry founder Pastor Victor Kanyari has claimed that at the peak of his historical media exposure, his public profile eclipsed that of the veteran political titan, the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Speaking during a church service on Sunday, June 7, 2026, the televangelist reflected on the period of intense investigative scrutiny he faced over a decade ago, recalling how his name and face consistently dominated the front pages of mainstream newspapers.

Headline Dominance and the “Con Preacher” Label

Kanyari told his congregation that the sheer volume of daily media coverage he received made him a household name across every corner of the country, outpacing seasoned politicians in sheer visibility.

“I remember there is a time I was more famous than Raila Odinga,” Kanyari claimed. “I remember in the newspapers you would find that on the front page was me, and on the second page there was also a story about me. My name was everywhere.”

The preacher acknowledged that the vast majority of the editorial coverage at the time branded him as a rogue televangelist and a “con preacher”—a narrative that permanently shifted public perception of his faith-healing ministry.

“It Was Just Ksh300” — Downplaying the Scandals

In a defense of his past ministerial practices, Kanyari insisted that the allegations leveled against him by investigative journalists were wildly exaggerated. He argued that unlike high-profile white-collar criminals or land-grabbing cartels, his financial solicitations were minor.

“Not that I used to con people out of a lot of money; it was just Ksh300 or Ksh500,” Kanyari added, referencing his infamous ‘Mbegu ya Karia’ seed-planting requests. “There are bad con preachers who swindle people of parcels of land and properties. I never did that.”

He argued that his ministry never stripped congregants of their ancestral lands, title deeds, or major life assets, drawing a distinction between himself and contemporary religious leaders currently entangled in multi-million-shilling property scandals.

Leveraging Notoriety into Longevity

Rather than allowing the intense public pushback to destroy his career, the televangelist explained that he developed thick skin and chose to view the negative publicity as a unique form of currency. He credits his mental resilience during those dark public moments for his current survival in the competitive modern gospel industry.

“I did not look at that fame as something that ruined my reputation. And that is why today I have a big church, many congregants, and a big following. Because my heart did not break,” Kanyari stated.

Today, Kanyari continues to command a significant digital footprint, particularly on platforms like TikTok, utilizing his past notoriety to anchor his ongoing ministry and maintain a loyal following in Nairobi.