It has been a weekend of high stakes and high spirits for Choice Gatwiri Kinoti.
The young woman, whose private moments with a controversial Russian “passport bro” were broadcast to millions after her videos were allegedly stolen, has sought spiritual—and financial—refuge at the altar of controversial preacher Pastor Victor Kanyari.
In a dramatic turn of events on Sunday, February 22, 2026, Choice repented before a packed congregation in Kayole Junction, walking away with a pocketful of cash and a promise of a fresh start.
The road to the pulpit began with a harrowing medical ordeal on Saturday, February 21. Following rampant online rumors that the Russian man she was associated with was HIV positive, Choice took a live HIV test during an interview with podcaster Muhia Wa Maingi.
Visibly trembling and wiping away sweat, Choice drew her own blood on camera to “calm herself down” and silence the trolls.
“Yeah, let’s test for the sake of myself. Omg, I am very tense and very nervous,” she admitted as she waited for the results. “If I have HIV, don’t judge me… I have decided that people must know the truth.” The negative result provided a massive sigh of relief, setting the stage for her Sunday morning redemption.
Appearing at Salvation Healing Ministry alongside fellow viral figure Marion Naipei, Choice was welcomed with open arms by Kanyari, a man no stranger to the spotlight.
After Choice thanked God for a second chance, Kanyari turned the spiritual moment into a “miracle money” event.
“I will go to the office together with you, and we will also have lunch together,” Kanyari declared to the cheering crowd.
“For now, I am handing you Ksh30,000, and the business you want, I will help you open it. Don’t worry; this is just a small gesture for you.”
Choice, visibly humbled, referenced the biblical multiplication of fish to describe the preacher’s generosity, telling the church that Kanyari is “truly a good man” and “God-sent.”
While critics on social media have questioned the authenticity of the “pulpit repentance,” Choice appears determined to pivot from viral victim to budding entrepreneur.
With Kanyari’s financial backing and a private “lunch meeting” on the horizon to discuss her future, the young woman is hoping to bury the “Russian scandal” for good.
As the dust settles, Nairobi watches closely: is this a genuine transformation, or the latest chapter in the city’s complex relationship between viral fame and the church?
