Controversial Salvation Healing Ministry leader Pastor Victor Kanyari stunned congregants during a packed Sunday service at his church along Nairobi’s Haile Selassie Avenue when he publicly explained why he continued sending monthly financial support to his ex-wife, the late gospel singer Betty Bayo, even after she remarried a city businessman only known as Tash.
In an emotional 12-minute testimony that quickly went viral on TikTok and YouTube, Pastor Kanyari told worshippers that love and responsibility for their two children made him overlook the new marriage.
“I was still sending her money every month even after she married Tash because she gave me two beautiful children and I loved her deeply,” the preacher said while pacing the pulpit, drawing loud amens from the crowd.
The revelation came as Pastor Kanyari opened up about the current strained relationship with his former in-laws and Tash following Betty Bayo’s tragic passing earlier this year.
The cleric expressed frustration that his children have not been allowed to visit him regularly since their mother’s burial. “Tash has never brought my children to see me. He only texts ‘hi’ once in a while. Last week he called and said he has no problem with me, that we should love each other. I was left completely confused,” Kanyari told the congregation.
Church members recorded the moment the pastor questioned whether to fight for full custody or remain patient. “Now I am asking myself, should I go for my children or should I wait a little longer?” he said, voice breaking, as several women in the front row began wiping tears.
Close family sources confirmed to journalists outside the church that Betty Bayo’s mother has been the primary caregiver of the two children since the singer’s death, with Tash providing financial support.
The new husband has reportedly restricted direct communication between Pastor Kanyari and the kids, insisting all arrangements go through the grandmother.
Legal experts following the developing story say the situation could head to the Children’s Court if an informal agreement is not reached soon. Under Kenyan law, both biological parents retain equal rights regardless of past marital status, but courts often consider the children’s best interests and stability when making custody decisions.
This is not the first time Pastor Kanyari has spoken publicly about his relationship with Betty Bayo after their messy separation in 2014 amid the infamous seed-planting scandal. The preacher had previously admitted on national television that he regretted how he treated her and promised to always support their children.
Several gospel artists who attended the Sunday service, including Reuben Kigame and Daddy Owen, declined to comment when approached by reporters but were seen consoling the pastor backstage.
Online reactions remain divided, with some Kenyans urging Tash to allow the children to maintain a relationship with their biological father, while others accuse Pastor Kanyari of seeking sympathy for past mistakes.
The Salvation Healing Ministry has announced plans to organise a special prayer session next Sunday dedicated to family restoration and co-parenting.
Church administrators say the service will be open to single parents and divorced couples seeking spiritual guidance on raising children in separated households.
As the custody conversation continues to dominate entertainment blogs and radio stations, Pastor Kanyari has appealed for privacy for the children while promising to handle the matter maturely.
“My children come first. Whatever decision I make will be for their future, not for social media clout,” he concluded before leading the church into an hour-long praise and worship session.
The unfolding drama has once again placed Pastor Kanyari in the national spotlight, reminding Kenyans of the complex personal lives that often exist behind the pulpit.
For now, many are watching to see whether the two families can find common ground or if the courts will be forced to intervene in what has become one of the most talked-about celebrity co-parenting disputes of the year.
