Isaac Otesa, famously known as Bungoma Goliath, left congregants stunned last month after collapsing during a prayer session led by the controversial Pastor Victor Kanyari.
The incident took place at Kanyari’s church, where the pastor was leading an intense session of prayers, calling on the Holy Spirit to move mightily among the worshippers.
As Pastor Kanyari prayed fervently, Otesa began swaying visibly before suddenly falling to the ground. The dramatic scene sent shockwaves through the congregation, with many gasping in disbelief.
Ushers and other worshippers rushed to check on Otesa, attempting to ensure his safety and comfort.
Despite the commotion, Pastor Kanyari remained calm, continuing with his prayer. Known for his polarizing deliverance services, Kanyari often interprets such incidents as evidence of spiritual breakthroughs.
He explained to the congregation that such falls are signs of chains being broken and people being freed from spiritual bondage. He described the moment as a powerful divine encounter.
Moments later, Otesa regained consciousness, much to the relief of the onlookers. Kanyari took the opportunity to declare the event a miraculous intervention, attributing the dramatic fainting to the presence of the Holy Spirit.
However, the story took an unexpected twist when Otesa later confessed that the entire incident was staged. While speaking with Chief Environment Officer Geoffrey Mosiria, Otesa revealed that his fainting was pre-planned.
According to Otesa, a friend named Kawira had introduced him to the idea, promising that he would be paid if he fainted during the prayer session.
Otesa, a father of three, admitted that financial struggles had driven him to take up the offer. After the staged event, he walked away with Ksh 8,000, a sum he felt compelled to accept due to his challenging circumstances.
Isaac Otesa once captured national attention alongside Bradley Marongo, another exceptionally tall Kenyan. The duo became widely recognized for their impressive height, but their paths diverged significantly.
While Marongo secured lucrative endorsement deals and gained public recognition as a media personality, Otesa has struggled to build a similar profile.
Despite his towering presence and brief fame, Otesa has found it difficult to achieve sustainable success. His challenges have included limited job opportunities and financial instability.
Days before the staged incident at Kanyari’s church, Otesa publicly appealed for help to secure employment and support his family.
Fortunately, Geoffrey Mosiria stepped in to offer assistance. He helped Otesa secure a job as a bouncer at a local club, providing him with a chance to earn a stable income.
For Otesa, this marks a step toward rebuilding his life and moving past the controversies surrounding his staged performance at Kanyari’s church.
As news of the staged fainting spread, it sparked mixed reactions from the public. Some criticized the act as dishonest, while others sympathized with Otesa’s struggles, recognizing that financial desperation often forces individuals into difficult choices.
The incident has reignited conversations about the pressures facing individuals in precarious economic situations and the ethics of sensational acts in religious settings.
For now, Otesa is focusing on his new job and hoping to find more opportunities to support his family while leaving the drama behind
