Toronto pastor and her two daughters face potential removal to Kenya, with the pastor expressing her unwillingness to return.
Toronto Pastor and Family Deported After Losing Asylum Claim
Rev. Rosalind Wanyeki, a Kenyan pastor residing in Toronto, along with her two daughters, Pearl (age 6) and Joylene (age 9), were deported from Canada on August 7, 2025, following a court ruling that rejected their asylum claim and denied requests to defer the deportation order.
The family had fled Kenya in 2020, escaping persecution from a powerful church leader in Nairobi. They had lived in Toronto for five and a half years, with Rev. Wanyeki leading a ministry and her children attending Scarborough's West Hill Public School.
The deportation followed an immigration hearing at the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) office where a judge denied the request to defer their deportation, despite pending applications for permanent residency and risk assessments, which were also denied but are being appealed.
Prior to deportation, the family was allowed to remain until June to let her daughters finish the school year. Tickets were booked for their flight from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Nairobi via Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines, scheduled for August 7.
Rev. Wanyeki publicly appealed for support against the deportation, stating she had established a church and business in Canada and feared persecution or death if returned to Kenya. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Moi University in Kenya and a Bachelor’s degree in Christian Education from Shiloh College, Toronto, and has over 20 years of ministry experience.
The community considers Rev. Wanyeki a contributing member of society, providing emotional support, connecting newcomers with resources, and being part of a network of Kenyan-Canadian pastors and several grassroots and community organizations. Local faith leaders are urging the Canadian government to step in and cancel or at least delay the family's deportation order.
Eunice Mbugua, a community mobilizer, states that Rev. Wanyeki provides culturally appropriate supports for people facing settlement challenges. Mbugua expresses concern about the potential dangers faced by those who are returned home, stating that there are cases of individuals disappearing or children being abducted.
Our website News Toronto has reached out to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for comment, but have yet to hear back. Joylene, the eldest daughter, expressed sadness about the prospect of having to leave Canada. Rev. John Munywoki emphasizes that the family are already taxpayers and contributors to the society.
Members of Toronto's Kenya and East African faith communities held an emergency service and news conference at North York's Royal Chapel. Rev. Wanyeki fears that she and her daughters will be harmed if they are sent back to Kenya. An appeal is currently underway, but it will not prevent their deportation on Aug. 7.
[1] CBC News. (2025). Pastor and family facing deportation from Canada. Retrieved from www.cbc.ca/news/canada
[2] Toronto Star. (2025). Kenyan pastor and family face deportation from Canada. Retrieved from www.thestar.com
[3] Global News. (2025). Toronto pastor and family face deportation after asylum claim denied. Retrieved from globalnews.ca
[4] Prayer Reign International Church. (2025). About Us. Retrieved from prayerreign.org
[5] National Post. (2025). Kenyan pastor and family face deportation from Canada. Retrieved from nationalpost.com
- Despite the family's pending applications for permanent residency and ongoing appeals, a judge from the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) denied their request to defer the deportation order, as reported by news sources like CBC News, Toronto Star, Global News, and National Post.
- Rev. Rosalind Wanyeki, a Kenyan pastor with over 20 years of ministry experience, fears for her safety and that of her daughters if they are deported back to Kenya due to persecution from a powerful church leader, as shown in a video on Prayer Reign International Church's website.
- Local faith leaders and community members are urging the Canadian government to reconsider the deportation order, highlighting Rev. Wanyeki's contributions to the community, as a church leader, business owner, and provider of culturally appropriate supports for immigrants, particularly in the areas of crime-and-justice and general-news as reported by News Toronto.
