Controversial preacher Pastor Victor Kanyari has sparked widespread concern online after publicly claiming that his two children with his late ex-wife Betty Bayo are currently struggling and that he has been completely denied access to them.
The outspoken pastor, who shares children Sky and Danny with the late gospel singer, made a series of emotional statements through videos shared on his TikTok and Facebook accounts, alleging that the children are not thriving in their current living environment and urging that they be returned to him.
In the emotional clips, Kanyari directly appealed for custody, making it clear that he wants to play a more active role in raising his children during what he describes as a difficult period in their lives.
“I love my children. I need my kids back,” Kanyari declared.
The pastor further claimed that his children are going through emotional distress and alleged that they have recently faced difficulties in school due to unpaid fees, raising fresh questions about their welfare following the death of their mother.
The controversy surrounding the children’s living situation has intensified because Sky and Danny have reportedly been under the care of Hiram “Tash” Gitau, Betty Bayo’s widower, since the singer’s death.
Kanyari, however, now says he has been completely shut out from his children’s lives and can neither see nor communicate with them despite being their biological father.
Responding to critics questioning whether he is fit to take custody of the children, Kanyari defended himself with a statement that quickly spread across social media.
“Even a snake cares for its young,” he said, insisting that no parent should be judged for wanting to protect and care for their own children.
The unfolding family dispute has surprised many followers because Kanyari had previously explained that he deliberately chose not to fight for custody immediately after Betty Bayo’s passing out of respect for Tash, who was grieving the loss of his wife.
Speaking to members of his congregation, the preacher revealed that he consciously avoided escalating tensions despite having every right to demand custody.
“There is the father who sired them and the one who raised them. We are two fathers. That is why I did not rush. I am not a violent person,” he explained.
According to Kanyari, he intentionally allowed the children to remain close to Tash because he understood the emotional pain the family was dealing with at the time.
He also stated that he avoided confrontation because he wanted peace rather than conflict, despite feeling entitled to step in sooner.
“If I wanted conflict, I would have gone there with people and demanded my children. But I did not want war,” he said.
The family drama has become even more complicated after Betty Bayo’s mother recently weighed in publicly, also expressing concerns about the children’s safety and reportedly urging Kanyari to intervene and ensure their wellbeing.
Her remarks have added another layer of seriousness to a situation that is quickly turning into one of Kenya’s most talked-about celebrity family disputes.
