NAIROBI, Kenya — The Ministry of Repentance and Holiness has dismissed as fake a viral WhatsApp screenshot purporting to show Prophet David Owuor allegedly chatting with God, calling the image malicious and misleading.
The screenshot, which has circulated widely across X, WhatsApp, and Facebook, sparked ridicule and heated debate after depicting what appeared to be a WhatsApp conversation between Owuor and “God,” complete with timestamps and read receipts.
In a statement issued on Monday, the church said the image was entirely fabricated and urged Kenyans to stop sharing it.
“It has come to our attention that a fabricated image is circulating on social media, falsely alleging that Prophet Dr Owuor engages in WhatsApp communication with GOD,” the statement read.
“This claim is entirely false, baseless, and malicious.”
The ministry said Prophet Owuor has never made, displayed, or suggested that he communicates with God through WhatsApp, describing the image as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and ridicule the Christian faith.
The church further accused those circulating the image of seeking to distract believers from what it described as the ministry’s core message of repentance and holiness.
Contradictions With Recent Sermons
The denial comes amid renewed scrutiny of Owuor’s public claims following a recent sermon in which he was captured holding a mobile phone and displaying what he described as divine messages.
In the sermon, Owuor claimed the messages contained instructions for repentance and assurances that God would “open the sky for rain.” He also asserted that he was the only human being who communicates with God through WhatsApp.
Those remarks fuelled online satire and debate, culminating in the circulation of the alleged WhatsApp screenshot now disowned by the ministry.
Despite those public assertions, the church maintained that the viral image is not authentic and should be disregarded.
Investigative Spotlight Intensifies
The controversy follows an investigative report aired by TV47 on February 9 titled Divine or Deceptive, which examined Owuor’s healing claims.
The broadcast featured testimonies alleging medical deterioration after some followers abandoned conventional treatment in favour of faith-based interventions.
TV47 also reported alleged attempts by individuals linked to the ministry to influence or block the broadcast. The church dismissed those claims as blackmail and fake news, saying they lacked factual basis.
Internal Evidence Points to Fabrication
Digital analysis of the viral image raises further doubts about its authenticity.
The screenshot mimics WhatsApp’s interface, including timestamps, delivery ticks, and a satirical “last seen Eternity” status, blending religious imagery with everyday messaging features.
The rapid, minute-by-minute exchange also contrasts sharply with the eternal and omnipotent nature attributed to God, reinforcing the satirical tone of the image.
These inconsistencies strongly suggest the image is a constructed digital artefact rather than a genuine leak.
Call for Restraint
The Ministry of Repentance and Holiness urged Kenyans to exercise restraint online and avoid amplifying unverified content.
“We urge members of the public to completely disregard this fabricated image and refrain from sharing it,” the statement said.
The episode underscores growing tensions around religious influence, misinformation and accountability, as digital platforms increasingly blur the line between satire, belief and public harm.
As scrutiny of high-profile religious leaders intensifies, the incident also highlights the role of social media in shaping — and distorting — public discourse in Kenya’s faith landscape.
