In an electrifying sermon that has sparked intense public debate, the outspoken Pastor James Ng’ang’a of Neno Evangelism Centre launched a fiery verbal assault on President William Ruto, accusing him of cloaking injustice with religious theatrics.
Captured in a now-viral video, Ng’ang’a furiously addressed the President directly from the pulpit, stating:
“Mwizi wewe! Unaua watu alafu unakuja kanisani kutuambia ‘Mwathani arogocwo’ Bwana Asifiwe… Nikuone hapa siku moja, nitapiga guitar masaa sita mpaka utoke uende.”
Roughly translated, the pastor accused Ruto of theft and bloodshed, saying, “You thief! You kill people and then come to church to tell us ‘Praise the Lord’… If I ever see you here, I’ll play the guitar for six hours straight until you walk out.”
Ng’ang’a’s outburst appears to be a direct challenge to what he sees as the President’s use of religion to sanitize the government’s actions — particularly amid allegations of state violence, rising extrajudicial killings, and growing public anger over economic hardships.
While Ng’ang’a has never shied away from controversy, this sermon marked an unprecedented escalation — openly condemning the Head of State during a live service and essentially banning him from his pulpit.
Online reactions have been polarized. Some Kenyans are hailing Ng’ang’a as a modern-day prophet standing up against hypocrisy:
“Finally, a pastor brave enough to call out the rot,” one X user posted.
Others, however, see his comments as disrespectful and unhinged:
“Ng’ang’a has crossed a dangerous line. That’s not how a man of God speaks,” said another.
Despite the backlash, Ng’ang’a has not issued any apology, standing firm in what appears to be a growing rift between some members of the clergy and the political elite.
The fiery sermon comes at a time when the Ruto administration is already under pressure — with questions swirling over the use of excessive force during recent protests, skyrocketing cost of living, and widespread perceptions of betrayal by a regime that campaigned heavily on faith and humility.
Whether Pastor Ng’ang’a’s dramatic sermon signals the beginning of a broader religious rebellion against the state or simply another episode of pulpit sensationalism, one thing is clear: the line between the altar and the arena of politics in Kenya has never been thinner.
