The Ministry of Repentance and Holiness, led by the self-proclaimed Prophet Dr. David Owuor, has officially denied allegations that it attempted to manipulate a media investigation after sending cash gifts to a news crew from TV47. The controversy erupted following an intensive recording session for an investigative feature titled “Divine Or Deceptive,” which seeks to explore the inner workings and healing claims of the ministry. Upon the conclusion of an exclusive interview with Prophet Owuor, each member of the TV47 production team reportedly received Ksh 20,000 via M-Pesa, a gesture the church insists was a “love offering” meant to acknowledge the crew’s hard work rather than an attempt to influence the documentary’s editorial direction.
Bribery or philanthropy?
During the recording, Prophet Owuor was captured on film explaining to the journalists that the money was a blessing from the Lord, specifically citing the late hour as the reason for the payment. Gesturing repeatedly to his watch, the Prophet informed the crew that the gift had nothing to do with the story they were producing but was simply a way to reward them for their time and effort. Festus Mutai, the church’s National Coordinator, further clarified the ministry’s position in a series of messages to TV47’s Editorial Director, Macharia Gachuru. Mutai noted that the recording session, which focused on the church’s controversial claims regarding HIV healings, began late and did not conclude until approximately 1:00 AM, far beyond the standard working hours of the media team.
In his defense of the payments, Mutai emphasized that the ministry did not want to be perceived as “abusers” who take undue advantage of professionals by making them toil deep into the night. He argued that the church simply wanted to show empathy for the team after seeing them work for nearly eight hours past their usual 5:00 PM logout time. According to the ministry, the funds were intended to compensate for the extraordinary circumstances of the shoot and to ensure the crew felt appreciated for their dedication to the project.
Despite the church’s insistence on the benevolence of the gesture, the TV47 crew chose to uphold strict journalistic ethics by refunding the entire amount sent to them. Screenshots shared online confirmed the reversal of the M-Pesa transactions, signaling the news team’s commitment to maintaining independence from their subject of study. In response to the refund, Mutai expressed that while the ministry respected the decision, the rejected funds would now be redirected toward other “worthy causes” to reach out to the community. This ethical standoff has added a significant layer of intrigue to the upcoming “Divine Or Deceptive” feature, as audiences wait to see how the investigation handles a ministry that attempts to “bless” its critics.
