In Kenya, a pastor beat parishioners for talking during a church service

An incident involving a religious leader occurred in Kenya, where the pastor of a Christian congregation beat parishioners for being outside the church building and not listening to his sermon during the service. A video of the incident, which caused a widespread public outcry, was released on June 30, 2026, according to the Kenyan publication TUKO.

According to reports, during an emotional speech, the pastor noticed empty seats in the church. Upon going outside, he found a group of believers who were not present in the sanctuary and physically assaulted them. Upon returning to the church, the pastor continued his disciplinary actions, forcing the remaining congregants to move from the back rows to the front.

The pastor’s behavior sparked a heated debate on social media. Most users condemned the use of force, emphasizing that the spiritual leader’s methods were unacceptable. However, there was also a group of commenters who supported the preacher’s actions: they expressed the view that parishioners are obligated to show due respect for the service and not to be distracted during the sermon.