Pastor Victor Kanyari Reveals He Once Dreamed of Becoming a Professional Boxer

Pastor Victor Kanyari of Salvation Healing Ministry has revealed that he once dreamed of becoming a professional boxer before answering his calling to ministry.

Speaking during a Sunday church service, the preacher opened up about his long-standing passion for boxing and said he once believed he could become one of the best fighters in the sport.

“Mimi kama singekuwa pastor I wanted to be a boxer. Nilikuwa natamani kuwa boxer. Mi nilikuwa naona kama naweza kuwa the best in boxing,” Kanyari told his congregation.

The preacher said boxing was his favourite sport while growing up, but his life eventually took a different direction after he embraced his religious calling.

“I really love boxing. That’s my sport yenye nilikuwa napenda. Lakini sasa bahati ya Mungu nikakuwa pastor,” he added.

Family influenced Kanyari’s career choice

Kanyari also shared details about his upbringing, explaining how his parents’ contrasting careers influenced his decision to pursue ministry.

His mother, Prophetess Lucy Nduta, was a pastor, while his father worked as a police officer.

“Babangu ni inspekta wa polisi mama ni pastor,” Kanyari recalled.

He said watching his father endure the demands of police work, including working at night while carrying a firearm, made him compare the two professions.

“So nikaona baba vile anateseka usiku na kubeba bunduki,” he added.

Kanyari said he also noticed the different experiences his mother had as a pastor, including receiving gifts from members of the church.

“Lakini nikaona mamangu anakaakaa analetewa mayai, kuku na wamama. Nikasema hata mimi nataka kuwa pastor.”

The observation eventually influenced his decision to abandon his childhood boxing ambitions and follow in his mother’s footsteps.

Ministry was not what he expected

Despite choosing the pulpit, Kanyari joked that his experience as a pastor turned out to be very different from what he imagined as a child.

He recalled expecting ministry to involve receiving gifts from congregants, only to discover that followers would also come to him with their own needs and demands.

“Maana kama pasta ni wa kupewa, lakini Mungu na yeye hakunipatia watu wa kunipea, alinipea watu wa kunidai,” Kanyari remarked.

The preacher made the comments while reflecting on the realities of ministry and the expectations placed on religious leaders.

Kanyari’s ministry and public profile

Kanyari founded Salvation Healing Ministry, which has its main church centre near Kayole Junction in Nairobi.

The ministry has built a significant presence both through physical services and online platforms, with its Sunday services and weekday fellowships attracting audiences beyond the church.

Kanyari himself has remained a prominent and sometimes controversial figure in Kenya’s religious and entertainment circles.

He rose to national prominence following a 2014 television expose that scrutinised his fundraising practices and popularised the phrase “Mbegu ya 310.”