In a defiant stand against accusations of land-grabbing, Pastor James Ng’ang’a of Neno Evangelism Church has refuted claims made by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) regarding the ownership of the land on which his church sits.
The EACC asserts that the land in question, along with others, belongs to Kenya Railways and has been earmarked for reclamation due to alleged grabbing, potentially leading to the demolition of Ng’ang’a’s church.
Ng’ang’a, known for his controversial demeanor, boldly dared the government to proceed with demolishing his church, maintaining his innocence. He asserts that he obtained the land legally, with an unchallenged title deed that dates back over four decades.
Clarifying the timeline of ownership, Ng’ang’a reveals that he acquired the land in 2004, more than two decades after the original title deed was registered. He expresses perplexity over why previous administrations, spanning from the late Daniel Moi’s to Uhuru Kenyatta’s, had not taken action against him earlier.
Dismissing allegations of fraudulent acquisition from Kenya Railways, Ng’ang’a insists that he purchased the property from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) after thoroughly verifying the legitimacy of the title deed.
He questions the timing and motive behind the allegations, highlighting the unchanged status of the title deed throughout various administrations.
Ng’ang’a’s defiant stance follows recent events, including the raid and partial demolition of Bishop Margaret Wanjiru’s church over similar accusations of land grabbing, signaling a growing trend of scrutiny on land ownership within religious institutions.
