'Tap Tap Screen!' Pastor Kanyari begins TikTok Live sessions as creators continue minting millions

TikTok's unrivalled monetary allure was best exemplified after the death of popular creator Brian Chira - within hours, fans had contributed over Khs. 10 million on the platform all meant for his funeral expenses.

As if riding on that unprecedented fundraising magic, controversial televangelist Pastor Victor Kanyari also appears to have embraced TikTok and gone straight into the business - money.

On Friday night, Kanyari, whose mischievous money-making skills have been nationally profiled before, jumped on a TikTok LIVE, asking fans to send him 'gifts' in exchange for heavenly blessings.

For over one hour or so, Kanyari stayed up on LIVE - imploring fans to keep sending him Tiktok 'gifts', using the scriptures to help drive up the cash.

At some point, saying, "Nimeshinda nikiombea hawa watu, nikiambia Mungu, yoyote alituma zawadi yake nikiwa LIVE abarikiwe sana... "

As more people tapped on their screens (which essentially translates to money) Kanyari kept up the tempo, asking fans to dig deeper into their pockets and 'recieve their blessings'.

"Chukua kile ambacho uko nacho, ile gift uko nayo, itume saa hizi na mimi nitapiga makofi yangu niseme ubarikiwe..." Kanyari repeatedly said.

A notoriously suave persuader, Kanyari asked fans to remember his past deeds towards them, adding that, by sending him TikTok gifts, they were essentially rewarding him for his years of Church ministry.

"Kama nimekuwa baraka kwako basi hata wewe kuwa baraka katika huduma hii," he rallied. "Sio Kana kwamba niko na shida ya pesa ama niko na shida ya hizo zawadi ambazo zinapeanwa katika TikTok lakini bibilia inasema mkono utoao ndio mkono ubarikiwao..."

While Citizen Digital has not established how much money Kanyari may have raised in that Live session, he may have pocketed a decent payday, just going by the gift activity on the screen.

In TikTok parlance, gifts are basically a donation system which allows users to send their favourite creators money. They can later on be bought with TikTok coins.

Each virtual gift costs a different amount of coins, so naturally, if you want to donate more money to your favourite creator, you would send them a more expensive gift.