How Pastor Wanted in US Used Kenyan Gen Z Protests Footage to Hoodwink Supporters
Apollo Quiboloy, a prominent pastor from the Philippines, has been accused of exploiting the legitimate push for change in Kenya by using footage from Gen Z protests to boost his image. Quiboloy, who was arrested on September 8 for sex trafficking, allegedly repurposed video clips of protests in Nakuru to falsely suggest that the demonstrators were his own followers.
The misleading footage from Nakuru was widely shared by Quiboloy’s supporters, who knowingly misrepresented it. The intention was to deceive viewers into believing the massive crowds were participating in the pastor’s events, rather than in Kenyan protests.
The doctored clips have been viewed tens of thousands of times, with many Filipinos falling prey to the false narrative. One video, watched over 78,000 times, shows a large group of young people marching, chanting, and holding placards, but it had nothing to do with Quiboloy’s ministry.
Quiboloy’s ruse nearly went unnoticed. The deception came to light when law enforcement began investigating his activities, leading to the discovery of the manipulated footage.
Quiboloy, who leads the Kingdom of Jesus Christ sect, is currently facing charges of sex trafficking and human abuse in both the United States and the Philippines.
At 74, Quiboloy surrendered on September 8 following a massive police raid involving over 2,000 officers at his sprawling church compound in Davao City, Philippines.
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Quiboloy and his followers have a history of using footage from Kenyan protests, claiming it as content from his crusades and rallies. For instance, on September 2, 2024, the pastor shared a video on Facebook with the caption “KOJC RALLY First Time in Davao City,” falsely crediting the event to his church.
A quick investigation reveals the footage was from Nakuru City, where massive youth-led protests occurred in June. The pastor’s post compared the protests to the 1986 Edsa Revolution, a peaceful movement that led to the ousting of Ferdinand Marcos, but ironically, the video’s captions included anti-government hashtags such as #rejectfinancebill2024.
Upon further scrutiny, a reverse image search revealed the video was first uploaded to TikTok on June 20, 2024, long before Quiboloy’s church was raided by police.
Despite his legal troubles, Quiboloy remains highly influential in the Philippines. Following his arrest, thousands of followers rallied at his 74-acre compound. His close connections with powerful figures, including former president Rodrigo Duterte, have allowed him to evade consequences, even though he remains on the FBI’s most-wanted list.
How Pastor Wanted in US Used Kenyan Gen Z Protests Footage to Hoodwink Supporters
