Pastor Kanyari’s Surprising Decision in Betty Bayo’s Custody Battle Wins Over Kenyans
The high-stakes public debate over the care of the late gospel singer Betty Bayo’s children appears to have reached a dignified and surprisingly peaceful resolution.
Following days of speculation and a leaked audio clip that hinted at a tense custody battle between her ex-husband, Pastor Victor Kanyari, and her current partner, Hiram “Tash” Gitau, Kanyari has finally clarified the matter, choosing compassion over conflict.
Speaking to his congregation in Nairobi on Sunday, November 23rd, the preacher openly addressed the custody issue. His decision? To allow Tash to be the primary caretaker for the children for the time being.
Kanyari explained that his choice was driven by empathy for Tash, who is deeply grieving the loss of his wife.
“I know he is hurting… he is mourning. And the people who can give him a bit of comfort right now are the children,” Kanyari stated.
He made it clear that he had no intention of engaging in a custody fight. “I just want to remain a good person. I have seen people fight for wives and kids, but I don’t want that,” he declared.
Kanyari revealed that he and Tash had candidly discussed the children’s future even amidst the funeral preparations. He recounted reassuring a worried Tash: “Whenever I was near him, he would ask me, ‘What about the children?’ and I told him, ‘Let them stay with you.’ We wanted to give Bayo a peaceful and honourable send-off.”
Kenyans online reacted with an overwhelming outpouring of admiration. The maturity displayed by both men during this incredibly painful transition earned widespread praise.
Many commended Tash’s quiet strength and noted that his silence throughout the ordeal had garnered significant public respect. Social media comments ranged from simple awe—“Maturity on another level”—to prayers for the future: “I hope you co-parent in peace; that is all I pray for.” The consensus is that prioritizing peace and the children’s well-being is the ultimate win.
Meanwhile, Kanyari has been actively challenging claims that he was an absent father prior to Bayo’s death. In recent days, he has shared various screenshots of past WhatsApp conversations with his daughter, Sky Victor, aiming to prove his consistent involvement.
The shared evidence includes discussions about crucial parental responsibilities, such as school fees, uniforms, braces, and other necessities.
One particularly heartwarming screenshot from October 2023 shows Sky thanking her father for his support, affectionately calling him “the best” and “the father anyone could ask for.” Another message revealed the daughter informing him that she was closing school for mid-term and was ready to visit him.
Kanyari is determined to remain an active figure in his children’s lives, insisting that regardless of the current living arrangements, he will not allow any distance to come between them.
