Pastor James Ng’ang’a has never been one to blend quietly into the crowd. At Uhuru Park on Friday, the outspoken televangelist turned what was meant to be a solemn gospel gathering into an unexpected blend of testimony and comedy – a performance now spreading quickly online.
The 70-year-old founder of Neno Evangelism Centre was not scheduled to speak at the Rhema Feast. But chants from the audience — “Commander! Commander!” – pushed organisers to hand him the microphone. What followed was a string of raw stories, candid admissions and self-deprecating humour that left the crowd in stitches.
“I never thought Kenyans would welcome me like that,” Pastor Ng’ang’a said later, reflecting on the overwhelming applause. “I have seen God like never before. When the camera showed me, they made a lot of noise. I thank God for Kenyans and the Gen Z.”
A Preacher’s Comic Confession
His stories stretched from dropping out of school to a stint in prison before turning to faith. But it was his honesty about a slip-up with mobile money that drew the loudest laughter.
“They gave a number and I sent KSh 20,000,” he told the congregation. “I didn’t get an M-Pesa message, so I sent another KSh 20,000 before realising it went through twice. I wanted to ask the preacher for a refund and even show the messages.”
The audience roared as he explained that only his wife stopped him from demanding the money back.
A Surprising Bond with Gen Z
The Uhuru Park appearance is the latest twist in Pastor Ng’ang’a’s unlikely connection with younger Kenyans. Just weeks ago, his first TikTok livestream attracted more than 4,000 viewers in minutes. Fans showered him with virtual gifts worth over KSh 88,000 in less than five minutes.
Baffled, the pastor paused mid-broadcast to ask: “So you people love me? Gen Z, I’ll come so you can teach me this tap-tap thing.”
That clip alone has been replayed thousands of times, with many praising his unfiltered style and surprising sense of humor.
To critics, Pastor Ng’ang’a’s antics blur the line between preaching and showmanship. To his growing base of online followers, they reveal a preacher who is refreshingly human.
For one evening in Nairobi’s central park, he managed to be both – a man of faith, and, perhaps unintentionally, the star comedian of the night.
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