Kenyan gospel singer Mercy Masika has sparked a nationwide online debate after announcing her upcoming Becoming a Wife masterclass, an initiative designed to guide women through marriage from a Christian perspective.
The programme, organised by Women of Light Ministry, has drawn sharply contrasting reactions, with some Kenyans welcoming the idea of faith-based marriage mentorship while others question why women are being taught how to become better wives when similar attention is not always given to men preparing to become husbands.
The discussion has attracted prominent voices, including media personality Janet Mbugua, actress Catherine Kamau, popularly known as Kate Actress, and journalist Lynn Ngugi. While some have challenged the focus of the programme, others have defended Masika’s right to share the lessons she believes can help women build successful marriages.
What is Mercy Masika’s masterclass about?
Masika announced the initiative on social media, describing it as an opportunity for women who want to build marriages guided by Christian principles.
“This is for every woman who believes marriage shouldn’t be miserable, who wants to get it right and trusts that God’s way is best,” she wrote while inviting interested participants to register.
The singer also highlighted the importance of mentorship in her own marriage journey, expressing gratitude to the women who have guided her over the years.
She specifically welcomed Lady Bishop Kathy Kiuna as one of the announced guest speakers, describing her as an example of an empowered woman who honours God and her husband.
According to details published by K24 Digital, the masterclass is scheduled to run from November 21 to December 12, 2026, across seven sessions. The topics include biblical marriage, the dynamic woman, building, intimacy and warfare.
Masika, who has been married to David Muguro since 2008, is expected to host the programme through Women of Light Ministry. The venue and details of any additional speakers had not been confirmed in the published announcement as of October 27.
The initiative places Christian teachings and personal development at the centre of its approach, offering women an opportunity to explore marriage through the lens of faith and mentorship.
However, the title and focus of the programme have prompted questions about the expectations society places on women in relationships.
Janet Mbugua questions the timing and focus
Among the most prominent critics is media personality Janet Mbugua, who questioned whether the emphasis on teaching women to become wives adequately reflects the challenges many women face in Kenya.
Mbugua argued that conversations about marriage should not be separated from broader concerns about women’s safety, sexual violence, femicide and the protection of children.
In remarks shared online, she questioned why religious institutions could mobilise around marriage teachings but were not always perceived to speak with equal urgency about social injustices affecting women and children.
“So many of the people we’ve buried asked for help first. Before any masterclass, shouldn’t we learn how to listen?” she wrote, according to The Standard.
She also challenged the idea that women could be expected to preserve a marriage through their own efforts if their partners were unwilling to contribute equally.
For Mbugua, a successful relationship requires mutual commitment, and advice directed at women alone risks overlooking the responsibilities of men.
She further raised concerns about religious messages encouraging women to endure difficult marriages, particularly where the language of perseverance may discourage some from speaking openly about their experiences or seeking help.
Her comments broadened the discussion beyond the masterclass itself, raising questions about the role of churches and faith leaders in addressing the everyday challenges facing women.
Kate Actress: Marriage is not women’s only aspiration
Actress Catherine Kamau, popularly known as Kate Actress, also joined the conversation, emphasising that while marriage can be meaningful, it should not be presented as the defining ambition of every woman.
In a social media post, she clarified that her criticism was not directed at marriage itself but at the suggestion that it should take priority over other aspirations.
“We are not against marriage; it really is a beautiful thing! But it’s not the ONLY thing women aspire to have: degrees, title deeds, financial wellness, mental wellness, etc.! Stay guided!” she wrote.
Her remarks highlighted the range of goals women pursue, from education and career advancement to property ownership, financial security and emotional wellbeing.
The argument resonated with a wider debate about how women can pursue marriage and family life without being expected to sacrifice other ambitions.
For critics of the masterclass, the concern is not necessarily that women should avoid marriage preparation, but that such preparation should exist alongside opportunities for personal growth and independence.
Married women ask why men are not included
The conversation has also attracted women who support marriage mentorship but believe the responsibilities of both partners should receive equal attention.
Rachel Gitau, who hosts the Pika na Raych YouTube channel, questioned why programmes focused on improving marriage skills appear to target women more frequently than men.
Writing in response to Masika’s announcement, Gitau said she believed marriage required both partners to keep learning and growing.
She argued that while women should have opportunities to learn how to become better wives, men should also have similar opportunities to become better husbands.
Her concern was straightforward: couples are building the same marriage, so both should be encouraged to take responsibility for its success.
Other social media users called for more attention to challenges affecting young men, including alcohol abuse, harmful relationship ideologies and violent behaviour.
These responses have helped shift the debate towards a broader question: how can marriage education support healthy relationships without placing a disproportionate burden on one partner?
Mercy Masika responds to the criticism
Masika has also addressed the discussion, explaining that the programme is intended to focus on building families and promoting what she described as a Kingdom mindset.
Responding to a social media comment, she wrote that the masterclass would centre on that purpose and invited the commenter to attend, saying she believed they would learn something.
Her response indicates that the programme is being presented as a faith-based initiative rather than a general course covering every aspect of relationships or women’s empowerment.
For supporters, that distinction matters. They argue that a programme designed specifically for women interested in biblical marriage does not necessarily prevent other initiatives from addressing men’s responsibilities or wider social problems.
The disagreement, therefore, also reflects differing expectations about the role public figures and religious leaders should play when they speak about marriage.
Mashirima Kapombe and Lynn Ngugi defend the initiative
Not everyone agrees with the criticism directed at Masika.
Media personality Mashirima Kapombe defended the singer, arguing that women should be allowed to pursue projects they believe in without being subjected to personal attacks simply because others disagree with their message.
Kapombe maintained that the masterclass might not appeal to everyone, but that people who are not interested in it should be able to choose not to participate.
She also argued that women’s empowerment should include respecting women’s freedom to make choices, including decisions about the kind of marriage guidance they want to pursue.
Journalist Lynn Ngugi similarly questioned whether it was fair to make Masika’s initiative the focus of broader frustrations about the response to issues affecting women.
Ngugi acknowledged that concerns about safety and social justice were important but suggested that Masika should also be allowed to concentrate on a subject she considers valuable.
Her position reflects the view that support for marriage mentorship and calls for stronger action against violence affecting women do not have to be mutually exclusive.
The defence of Masika has therefore introduced another dimension to the debate: whether criticism of an initiative’s focus can be separated from personal attacks against the person organising it.
Kabi WaJesus introduces a ‘Becoming a Husband’ initiative
The debate took another turn when Kenyan digital content creator Kabi WaJesus announced plans for a programme dubbed Becoming a Husband.
Responding to the discussions surrounding Masika’s masterclass, Kabi argued that men also need to be intentional about learning how to become better husbands.
“Marriage works when both parties are willing to learn, grow and put in the work,” he said.
He acknowledged that many women have experienced difficulties in marriage and that their concerns deserve to be heard. At the same time, he urged people to express their opinions without bullying or attacking Masika.
Kabi subsequently invited men interested in improving their approach to marriage, as well as women who wanted their partners to become more intentional about their responsibilities, to express interest in his proposed initiative. Details of the programme were not fully outlined in his announcement.
His intervention directly addressed one of the most persistent criticisms of Masika’s masterclass: the perceived lack of equally visible programmes aimed at helping men prepare for marriage.
It also suggests that the online discussion could create opportunities for broader conversations about the responsibilities of husbands and wives.
A wider debate about marriage, faith and independence
The reactions to Becoming a Wife reflect changing attitudes towards marriage and gender roles in Kenya.
For some women, Christian marriage mentorship provides a valuable opportunity to learn about communication, commitment, faith and the responsibilities associated with family life.
For others, the concern is that programmes focusing primarily on women may reinforce expectations that wives must carry the greater responsibility for keeping relationships together.
The discussion has also highlighted the importance of financial independence, education and emotional wellbeing, particularly for women who want to pursue marriage without abandoning other ambitions.
At the same time, supporters of Masika argue that a voluntary masterclass aimed at a specific audience should not be expected to address every challenge affecting women or society.
These positions are not necessarily incompatible. Women can seek guidance on marriage while also pursuing education, financial independence and personal development. Similarly, conversations about the responsibilities of wives can coexist with efforts to encourage men to become more accountable and supportive partners.
The challenge is ensuring that marriage education promotes mutual respect and shared responsibility rather than suggesting that one person’s behaviour alone determines the success of a relationship.
For Masika, the initiative represents an opportunity to share the faith-based marriage guidance she believes in. For her critics, the reaction has become a platform for raising broader questions about women’s safety, equality and the expectations placed on wives.
For those defending her, the central argument is that women should be free to seek mentorship without being ridiculed for their choices.
Ultimately, the debate has moved beyond the title of a single masterclass. It has become a conversation about what it means to build a healthy marriage in a society where traditional expectations, personal ambitions and calls for greater accountability continue to intersect.
Whether people agree with Masika’s approach or not, the reaction demonstrates the growing willingness of Kenyans to question how marriage is discussed, who is expected to carry its responsibilities and how both partners can be supported in building healthier relationships.
