Controversial preacher Pastor Victor Kanyari has broken his silence following a court ruling that awarded him custody of his two children, Sky and Danny, after an emotional public appeal from his daughter went viral online.
The ruling, delivered on October 27, ordered the children to leave the home of their stepfather Hiram Gitau, widely known as Tash, who had been raising them since the passing of their mother, the late gospel singer Betty Bayo, in November 2025. The children were directed to move in with their biological father.
Sky’s emotional plea to President Ruto
The decision triggered an immediate reaction from Sky, 14, who went live on Facebook the following day, rejecting the ruling in the most dramatic terms possible.
Visibly distressed, she said she would rather be reunited with her late mother in death than be forced to live with Kanyari.
”I would rather go where mum is, even if it’s heaven, I sleep and never wake up again before I’m held up hands and taken to a place I don’t even know,” she said.
Sky directed a tearful appeal straight at the President, saying:
”William Ruto, please help us, help us get out of this situation, let’s just stay where our mum left us, that’s all we beg, that’s all we want, please talk to someone.”
She stressed that her younger brother Danny’s distress was her primary motivation. “I’m not doing this live for me, I’m doing it for Danny. It’s very painful watching him cry,” she added.
Sky also levelled serious allegations against her father, claiming that a previous stay at his home saw her phone, makeup and clothing confiscated, and that she was locked inside the house to prevent contact with Tash.
”The last time we went to his place, it was very traumatising,” she said.
Kanyari dodges questions on live call
On Tuesday, October 28, MC Chris, who describes himself as friends with all parties, hosted a TikTok livestream and called Kanyari directly to get his response.
When pressed to explain the court’s decision, Kanyari was evasive throughout the call.
”Wacha, wacha nikutumie iyo, iyo mamuzi. Iyo, nilichukua iyo video. Sijachukua. Kwa sana, staki kuyongelelea sana. Staki ma-discussion na vita mingi,” he said, promising to send the video of the ruling and suggesting they speak privately “behind the tent.”
He did not directly answer questions about his children rejecting him or how he planned to support them going forward.
Tash separately addressed the matter on his own TikTok Live, telling more than 3,500 viewers that he was still struggling to process the court’s decision.
The custody battle has sharply divided Kenyans online, with many calling on authorities to take the children’s own wishes into serious consideration.
