Outrage and Support as Lawyer Ogolla Backs Kenya’s Most Controversial Pastors

Lawyer Steve Ogolla has sparked debate online after defending controversial pastors James Ng’ang’a, David Edward Owuor, and Victor Kanyari.

He argued that their influence among low-income Kenyans plays a stabilising social role rather than a disruptive one.

In a statement shared on X, Ogolla claimed that criticism directed at the three religious leaders largely comes from what he described as Kenya’s “pretentious middle class.”

While saying their ministries continue to offer hope to some of the country’s poorest communities.

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The Controversy On X

“Only the pretentious middle class has a problem with Prophet Owuor, Pastor Ng’anga and Pastor Kanyari. These religious leaders are responsible for keeping hope alive amongst Kenya’s poorest, and inadvertently making it easy for the elite to govern the poor.” Ogolla said on his X page.

He argued that prophetic churches help vulnerable populations to remain optimistic and, indirectly, contribute to social stability by reducing the pressure for political unrest.

According to Ogolla, if prophetic churches shifted their messaging to align with more critical or politically assertive preaching associated with some mainstream denominations.

The Pastors’ Followers

Then the country could witness heightened public agitation. He suggested such a shift could trigger widespread mobilisation that might challenge the ability of the government to maintain political stability.

His remarks come against the matter of long running public debate over the role of prophetic ministries in Kenya’s religious landscape.

Prophet Owuor, who is the founder of the Repentance and Holiness Ministry, has built a large following through crusades that emphasise repentance, holiness and claims of faith-based healings, while also attracting criticism over some of his teachings and practices.

Pastors Ng’ang’a and Kanyari have also remained prominent public figures for years, often drawing attention because of their preaching styles and repeated controversies that have also kept them in the limelight.

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Kenyans Reactions

Ogolla further called on Kenyans to respect the three pastors, who he said are influential religious leaders with a relatively large following among ordinary Kenyans.

His remarks have now raised mixed reactions online, with some netizens agreeing that the churches provide emotional support to struggling communities, while others questioned the broader social and political issues of his argument.

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Lawyer Ogolla in his office
PHOTO/Ogolla FB