- Mashirima Kapombe stepped in to defend Mercy Masika after the gospel singer's upcoming marriage masterclass drew fierce criticism online
- Critics, including media personality Janet Mbugua, questioned why women bear the bulk of marriage teachings amid Kenya's ongoing femicide crisis
- The controversy prompted organisers to add a parallel Becoming a Husband session featuring Kabi WaJesus in response to public pressure
Veteran media personality Mashirima Kapombe has come out strongly in support of gospel singer Mercy Masika amid backlash over her upcoming Becoming Wife masterclass.
Source: Facebook
Kapombe called out critics of the seven-session programme, accusing them of bullying Masika while claiming to champion women's empowerment.
What did Mashirima Kapombe say about Masika's masterclass?
Posting on Facebook on Monday, October 26, Kapombe argued that targeting a woman for running an initiative simply because it conflicts with one's personal values is not empowerment — it is hypocrisy.
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"You cannot claim to champion women and women empowerment while tearing down another woman for an initiative you don't agree with," she wrote, adding that critics who are not the target audience should simply scroll past.
The masterclass, hosted by Mercy Masika Muguro, is billed as a biblical guide to marriage running from November 21 to December 12, 2026.
Criticism of the programme came from various quarters, with some arguing that placing the burden of making marriages work squarely on women sends the wrong message, particularly at a time when Kenya continues to grapple with rising cases of femicide and gender-based violence.
Masika herself pushed back against the criticism, revealing she nearly wrecked her own marriage by entering it with what she described as a stubborn, independent-woman mindset.
She maintained that the course is designed specifically for women who wish to build their marriages around Christian values.
Following the public pressure, organisers responded by introducing a companion Becoming Husband session featuring Kabi WaJesus, acknowledging the calls for men to receive equivalent marriage guidance.
See the post below:
Kenyans weigh in
Reactions to Kapombe's post were divided.
@estherkazungu drew a parallel between holding public officials accountable and questioning public content, writing:
"Anything that's put out on the internet will always be questioned whether good or bad."
@kawira_mutembei shifted focus to a broader concern:
"But when it comes to femicide and gbv that's where they have no voice. The church is the biggest enabler of gbv anyway."
@amalie_chops posed a pointed question:
"Who is teaching the men? Women are endlessly taught how to pray for, submit to, love, and sustain marriages, yet where is the same energy invested in teaching men how to respect, protect, and honour the women they marry?"
@awuorlaura framed her concern around timing rather than content:
"It's not that conversations about marriage are unimportant. It's that, in this moment, I hoped they would recognise the urgency of the battles we are fighting."
Not everyone was critical of Masika. @waithira_kihenja wrote simply:
"She has a target Audience; I see nothing wrong with this," while @thecurejsoul noted, "na hajawaforce waende."
What did Janet Mbugua say about Masika's masterclass?
TUKO.co.ke also highlighted facts about Janet Mbugua’s criticism of Masika’s planned marriage masterclass for women and the concerns she raised about its message.
Mbugua questioned why women are expected to save marriages while issues including femicide and other forms of injustice remain urgent concerns.
Her remarks have sparked debate over whether the class is appropriate amid those challenges.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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