Rev. Lydia Kahiga of PCEA Evergreen Church in Nairobi is currently the most discussed cleric in Kenya after a viral sermon in which she instructed members to pay two separate tithes, one calculated from their monthly salary and a second tithe based on the total amount of debt they owe.
The preacher told the congregation that tithing on outstanding loans, including Fuliza, M-Shwari, bank overdrafts, and even shylock debts, activates divine intervention that leads to supernatural debt cancellation.
In the now-viral clip recorded last Sunday, Rev. Kahiga used the example of a member earning KSh 100,000 monthly but owing KSh 500,000. She explained that such a person must bring KSh 10,000 as the regular salary tithe plus an additional KSh 50,000 as tithe on the debt.
“When you honour God with the tithe of your debt, heaven takes over that burden,” she declared, assuring the church that God would mysteriously clear the loans thereafter.
The teaching has ignited fierce debate across social media platforms, with thousands of Kenyans expressing shock and anger. Many have labelled the directive exploitative, especially at a time when millions struggle with high living costs and aggressive digital lender collections.
Critics quickly pointed out the practical implication of the teaching. A borrower following the instruction would immediately increase their debt by the exact amount paid as “debt tithe” since the money leaves their pocket without reducing the principal owed to lenders.
Several congregants who spoke anonymously told local journalists they felt pressured to comply despite knowing they could barely afford basic needs after such payments.
Theological scholars have also weighed in, with most describing the doctrine as unbiblical. A veteran Presbyterian minister, said no scripture supports tithing on borrowed money.
“Tithe is traditionally ten per cent of increase or harvest, not liabilities. This is prosperity gospel taken to dangerous extremes,” he stated during a radio interview on Wednesday morning.
PCEA church moderators at both the presbytery and national levels have distanced themselves from Rev. Kahiga’s statements. A senior elder at the regional level confirmed that an urgent meeting has been scheduled to review the sermon and decide whether disciplinary action is required.
Church sources say some members have already threatened to leave the Evergreen congregation if the leadership does not address the controversy publicly.
Defenders of Rev. Kahiga, a small but vocal group, argue that she was teaching faith in action. They claim several members have previously received financial miracles after sowing large seed offerings during difficult seasons.
One woman who identified herself only as Mercy posted a testimony on Facebook claiming her KSh 38,000 Fuliza loan disappeared from the app two weeks after paying a similar “debt tithe” last year.
As the story continues gaining traction, financial wellness advocates have used the moment to warn Kenyans against mixing spiritual practices with predatory lending solutions.
“No amount of tithing replaces financial discipline and proper debt management,” said Wanjiku Mungai of the Financial Awareness Foundation during a television appearance.
Meanwhile, Rev. Lydia Kahiga has remained silent on social media since the video surfaced, and attempts to reach her for comment went unanswered at the time of publishing.
The incident has reignited national conversations about regulation of prosperity preaching in Kenya, with several MPs promising to fast-track legislation that would require financial transparency from religious organisations receiving large donations from members.
For now, thousands of Kenyans continue sharing memes and personal stories under the trending topics, turning what began as a Sunday sermon into one of the biggest religious controversies of the year.
