In a twist that has left the gospel industry reeling, the Salvation Healing Ministry founder, Pastor Victor Kanyari, has stepped into the eye of a brewing legal storm—not to attack his ex-wife’s widower, but to defend him.
Speaking in a candid press interview on Thursday, December 18, the polarizing preacher took the extraordinary step of shielding Hiram ‘Tash’ Gitau from the scathing allegations leveled by the late Betty Bayo’s mother, Joyce Wairimu Mbugua.
The intervention follows a series of bombshell claims by Mrs. Mbugua, who has publicly questioned the circumstances of her daughter’s death and labeled Tash a potential threat to the family’s estate and the safety of her grandchildren.
Despite the high-octane drama surrounding the “11th Hour” singer’s passing, Kanyari insisted that he refuses to join the chorus of condemnation against the man who replaced him in Betty’s life.
“I do not want to speak badly about Tash because I do not see him as a bad person,” Kanyari stated firmly.
“I have never observed his behaviour reflect that of a bad person in any way, and that is the key reason why I refuse to speak negatively about him.”
The pastor’s refusal to “hurl shade” marks a rare moment of solidarity between an ex-husband and a widower, a move that has stunned fans who expected Kanyari to side with his former mother-in-law.
The preacher’s defense stands in stark contrast to the scorched-earth policy adopted by Betty’s mother, Joyce Wairimu.
In a recent live broadcast, Mrs. Mbugua launched a blistering attack on Tash, insisting that she is the “only legally recognised next of kin” and warning him against laying claim to any of the singer’s property.
Her concerns have now shifted to the welfare of Betty’s children, whom she shares with Kanyari.
In a move that has sparked intense debate, the grandmother demanded the children be moved to a “safer environment” under her guidance, openly questioning Tash’s suitability to remain in the family home.
“I wonder why the burial permit was issued in Tash’s name and not mine,” Mrs. Mbugua lamented.
“I want it changed to my name. All official documents, including the death certificate, should reflect my status.”
The dispute has now moved beyond grief and into the realm of legal documentation. Mrs. Mbugua claims the “hurried” burial and the naming of Tash on official documents were “incorrect and misleading.”
While Kanyari confirmed he remains on “good terms” with his former mother-in-law, his public support for Tash creates a massive rift in the family’s united front.
With the DPP’s seven-day investigation into Betty’s death already underway, Kanyari’s testimony could prove pivotal in clearing—or complicating—the widower’s name.
Related: DPP orders urgent probe into Betty Bayo’s death after mother claims ‘evil hand’ involved
