A dramatic turn of events has unfolded in the viral church slapping incident involving controversial preacher Apostle James Ng’ang’a, as the victim now demands justice and compensation while alleging his life is under threat.
Willy Mwangi, the Dandora resident who was publicly slapped by Pastor Ng’ang’a during a church service at Neno Evangelism Centre for allegedly sleeping, has completely changed his stance from initially calling the incident “a blessing” to now seeking legal redress and compensation.
From blessing to nightmare
What started as a viral moment that sparked nationwide debate has now become a personal nightmare for Mwangi, a coffee and watermelon hawker who claims the incident has destroyed his livelihood and put his safety at risk.
“I was not happy with it. Somebody to slap me in church for dozing off without asking me why I dozed off isn’t fair. It has affected me,” Mwangi revealed in a recent interview, contradicting his earlier public statements where he welcomed the possibility of being slapped again.
The hawker alleges that his initial acceptance of the slap was not genuine but coerced. According to Mwangi, Pastor Ng’ang’a detained him at the church for a week following the viral incident, pressuring him to publicly declare that the slap was a blessing.
Livelihood under threat
The father’s small business has suffered significantly since the incident went viral.
Mwangi explains that he can no longer sell coffee or watermelon in peace as customers either mock him or assume he received financial compensation from the wealthy preacher.
“I can’t sell coffee or melon in peace because people are laughing at me. They accuse me of being bribed by him (Pastor Ng’ang’a) to remain quiet. He didn’t give me any money. He only offered me shoes and a suit,” Mwangi stated.
The street vendor reports returning home daily with unsold stock, as some customers shy away while others demand money from him, believing he received compensation from the pastor.
Safety concerns and financial demands
Beyond the economic impact, Mwangi now fears for his personal safety, citing the pastor’s controversial past and alleged criminal connections.
“I don’t have money yet, he is rich. My life is in danger. I don’t have any security, and now I have to be extra careful,” he revealed.
The Dandora resident is demanding multiple forms of compensation from Pastor Ng’ang’a:
– Payment for the physical assault and bodily harm caused by the slap
– Compensation for the unauthorized use of his image in viral videos
– A share of the financial benefits the pastor allegedly gained from the viral TikTok content
– Damages for the negative impact on his livelihood
Mwangi is also calling for Pastor Ng’ang’a’s arrest, arguing that the preacher should face legal consequences for the assault.
“The case should be followed. He should pay me for hitting me like that. That incident affected me because now I can’t hawk coffee freely. He should pay me for slapping me,” he demanded.
The incident has reignited discussions about pastoral authority, consent, and the exploitation of viral content for financial gain.
Some suggest that Mwangi may have grounds for both civil and criminal cases, including assault charges and claims for image rights violations.
This latest development adds to Pastor Ng’ang’a’s history of controversial incidents.
The preacher recently made headlines for turning away Milka Moraa, a woman seeking help with rent and school fees, prompting Kenyans to raise over KSh 500,000 for her after the video went viral.
