Bishop Kiengei forced to apologise to Pritty Vishy for body shaming remarks

Popular preacher and church proprietor Bishop Muthee 'Ben' Kiengei has sparked controversy after appearing to openly mock and body shame online influencer Pritty Vishy in a recent interview at his own TV station.

Kiengei, whose wisecracks and personalized preaching methods have made him wildly popular with his congregation, recently sat down with his own TV station's (JCM TV) presenter Lizz Wangui to discuss a few topical matters before veering into a discussion about musician Stevo Simple Boy and his former girlfriend Pritty Vishy.

While mimicking Simple Boy's accent and slogans, the JCM Church Founder went on to rubbish the rapper's past relationship with Pritty Vishy, claiming that the content creator was only riding on Stevo Simple Boy's popularity as she had no talent of her own.

"Pritty Vishy was preying on Stevo Simple Boy's fame. Anataka kujulikana lakini kwa kunona. Si mrembo, hawezi kuimba...she's not pretty, let's be honest... She's not appealing..." Kiengei says on the show.

The duo went on to mock the pair as Kiengei dismissed Stevo Simple Boy's online catchphrases.

Soon after the video made rounds online, Kenyans started blasting the Bishop for his insensitive comments, terming them unacceptable and unpalatable from a man of his societal standing.

Popular female rapper Femi One, too, joined in the chorus of condemnation, unloading her displeasure on Kiengei.

She wrote: "This video done pissed me off on so many levels. This is a Bishop and on Sunday he will most likely be preaching about how we are all created in the likeliness of God! Na huyu host anacheka cheka nini...such an enabler. And that Simple Boy joke...distasteful to say the least. It's high time we have an honest conversation about the clergy men in this country!"

While taking to her social media platforms, Pritty Vishy herself also reacted to the unwarranted attacks, criticising the man of God for the reckless utterances, even vowing to visit his church for a showdown.

She wrote: "Pastor @bishopbenjcmchurch you are a hypocrite, you hide in church and pretend to be a man of God, I thought you read the Bible? Do you know the verse that says that we are all created in the likeness and image of God? Do you have a wife? daughter? mother? do you know the meaning of respect?"

"Do you respect them? What do you teach your children? What do you preach to your church members? Do they know how stupid and ignorant you are? Why hide in church and take the title bishop?”

She added: "You and other hypocrites who hide in churches are the reason why we stopped stepping into ‘the house of the Lord’ Since you did so well to remind me that I am ugly, unattractive, and fat which all this is true coz I mean...Let's meet in your church, stand on that altar, in front of your church members and you should repeat all those words..."

As the drama boiled over, Bishop Kiengei, who was formerly an ordained priest at AIPCA church before founding his own church, JCM in Kamakis, Ruiru, Kiambu County, was compelled to issue an apology to Pritty Vishy.

In his statement, a remorseful Kiengei expressed his regret, promising that such an incident would never happen again while also inviting her to his church.

"Pritty Vishy, I am really 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 a wrong way. This will never happen in the future, I take it as my mistake. Pole my sister na karibu sana JCM Church, kanisa la watu wote,” he wrote.

Over the years, Pritty Vishy has been forced to respond to - or ignore - internet trolls who have consistently harassed her for her weight, fashion sense and looks. 

Back in 2022, Vishy shared a video online where she broke down into tears as she begged people to stop body shaming and trolling her. 

She said: "People used to call me kienyeji, and I was like if you view me as one then let me be kienyeji pro max…Did I ask God to create me this way? No. I didn't, if I was to choose how I would be born, I would want to look like Beyonce and Nicki Minaj."