Ben Muthee Kiengei is a man with many hats. Some know him as a popular preacher and proprietor at his JCM church, others know him as a radio presenter while to others he is a comedian.
But on the social media streets, he is widely known by his Bishop title because this year he has been grabbing headlines for controversial reasons and his church has always been dragged in every scandal.
Despite trending for wrong reasons almost every month in 2024, Bishop Kiengei has managed to cope with the controversies.
Here are some of the scandals that made Bishop Kiengei and his church appear top on the trending list in 2024.
Kiengei vs Pritty Vishy
For the better part of September 2 and 3, 2024, Bishop Kiengei faced online backlash after an undated video showing him body shame digital content creator Purity Vishieno widely known as Pritty Vishy went viral.
In the video, the renowned radio presenter was heard saying how unattractive Pritty Vishy was and that she was riding on her ex-boyfriend Stevo Simple Boy’s fame.
However, his derogatory comments did not sit well with online users, and many called him out stating that his utterances went against the teachings of love and acceptance he preaches.
Due to the online pressure he later apologised and admitted his wrongdoings stating that he went overboard with his utterance. Additionally, the man of cloth welcomed the vlogger to join his church.
“Pritty Vishy I am sorry and I take this moment to highly apologise for mentioning your name in a show where I went overboard and mentioned you in the wrong way. Get a space in your heart to forgive me for addressing you in the wrong way,”
“This will never happen in future, I take it as my mistake. Pole my sister na Karibu sana JCM Church kanisa la watu wote.“ he apologized.
Pritty Vishy however declined the bishop’s apology stating that she wants it done the same way he made the disrespectful comments.
“When you widely opened your mouth to abusē me did you send your assistant ama ni yeye alikuandikia line? If you wanna talk to me talk to me directly, and before that I don’t want a written apology. I want a video, the same way you sat down and made that disrespectful video, do the same on the apology…don’t send pēoplē to me kwani walikusaidia kucheka?” she said.
After playing hard to get, the YouTuber eventually agreed to meet up with Kiengei, and the two settled their differences and the Bishop brought on board investors who gave the influencer brand ambassadorial jobs.
He listed five brands, ranging from tours and travels, and online shopping to real estate, as the companies that would be using Pritty Vishy as their official influencer and brand ambassador.
“After speaking out, Forgiving each other together with my sister Lizz Wangui Muchiri, I invited some investors because I have found that we should positively use Prity and her influence for her to build and change the way things are working in her life,” Kiengei said.
Love triangle
On August 29, 2024, the internet almost broke as a drama unfolded between Kiengei’s second wife Rev Joy Benson and Dama wa Spares, a businesswoman dealing with mobile phone spares who claimed to be having an affair with the bishop.
This is after a phone call conversation between Dama and US-based preacher Evangelist Wairimu Kimani bad-mouthing Kiengei leaked online.
During the drama, Dama, the church’s matrone resigned and ditched JCM.
After trending for weeks due to the love triangle saga, Kiengei was forced to respond to claims that he was cheating on his spouse.
During one of his church services in September, the father of three clearly stated that he was married to one wife and denied cheating on her.
He further urged his followers to exercise caution when trusting others with personal information.
“I am Bishop Gathungu, and no word has come from God yet to change that. And our church is a good one. Feel free to worship and praise. And this church’s bishop has a brain…this church’s bishop is married to only one woman…coz he knows the Bible says a clergyman should marry only one wife so as to be able to manage his home affairs. And when he is able to manage his home affairs, all will fall into place. And I want to invite my wife to say hi so that y’all can know her. If I ever desire another, I will ask for permission,” he said.
Alcohol
Apart from the love triangle saga, in the leaked viral audio, the man of God was accused of being an alcoholic.
In his defence, during a church service, in September 2024, the bishop confessed that it’s true he used to take alcohol but he stopped drinking once he got saved.
“I won’t lie. I heard people saying that I am a drunkard. I indeed drank with this man here. But we both stopped drinking. When I started preaching, I also made him stop going to the bar where we would go. It was called hideout. So don’t take me back to where I have come from,” he said while pointing at his ex-drinking buddy,” Kiengei confessed.
