Missionary and Pastor tussle over Sh10m property

Nyeri, Kenya: A Baptist pastor and an American missionary are tussling over a Sh10 million property in Ring Road estate allegedly purchased by donor funds raised in the US.

In the years before their protracted court battle began, full-time missionary Teri Crane and Pastor Peter Wanjohi Kamau had formed an enduring friendship formed when they met at a missionary outreach programme, organised by Wanjohi’s Orbit Baptist Church, held in Kayole, Nairobi on November 2001.

VISITING TEAMS

Ms Crane, who was then working as an administrator at a medical clinic in Kayole, had been invited to offer free medical services during the event.

The pastor later invited Crane to his new Nyeri station on September 2002 and he together with his church board member presented her with a proposal requesting assistance for various church projects, including a multi-purpose building for clinics and seminars.

This would mark the beginning of a formidable working relationship which culminated in purchase of the Sh10 million property now at the centre of a protracted court battle.

“I presented the proposal to Blount Christian Church in the US and they agreed to support the projects,” the missionary said in a court statement.

Crane claims that between 2003 and 2005, she brought over five teams from the US to the Nyeri Baptist Church with Wanjohi and his wife Ruth Wanjohi (now deceased) helping make preparations.

She said this rapid growth and expansion of the projects necessitated incorporation and registration of an independent non-profit organisation in the US called Project Kenya Inc under Blount Christian Church and she was appointed to be part of the nine member board.

Things begun to fall apart when the donors moved to buy a five-acre piece of land, that had a four-bedroomed house, belonging to one Francis Kinyanjui and his wife Jane Mirigo

The premises was to serve as a rescue home, working base for Project Kenya Inc, and an accommodation facility for members visiting Kenya.

It was to be transferred to Wanjohi and on May 8, 2007, the missionary and Wanjohi allegedly signed an agreement which stipulated the terms under which the property would be held.

But Crane disputed this saying the agreement was executed in her absence since she had already left for the US.

“My signature was forged to indicate I witnessed the agreement,” she alleges.

She claims the sale agreement failed to indicate that Wanjohi would temporarily hold the land in trust for Project Kenya having received proceeds for the purchase from Project Kenya Inc between 2007 and 2010 amounting to over Sh7 million.

 

With the titles transferred to his name, Wanjohi moved his residence from Nyeri Baptist Church into the house on the property.

On May 2010, the NGO Project Kenya International Limited was incorporated and Wanjohi was asked to transfer the titles over to the NGO.

NO WAY

He, however, declined and stated he intended to claim the property as his own. He shunned all attempts by Crane and Nyeri Baptist Church elders to make him transfer the titles.

Crane moved to court and in Wanjohi’s statements, dated February 27, 2012, he claimed to have bought the property in his own capacity and only received contributions from international donors as condolences for losing his wife.

He hit out at Crane saying “she is bitter because he refused to marry her opting for another woman”.

“She is a busybody who has embarked on futile battles of suing innocent Kenyans. I have requested the US government to investigate her activities of raising money for charity and trading with it here in Kenya,” reads one of his affidavits.

Wanjohi and his parishioners further reiterated that he bought the land in his personal capacity with the missionary only giving a personal donation.

These claims have, however, been refuted by Wanjohi’s father-in-law Martin Murigi whose statement contradicts their assertions.

“I know for a fact that the property was bought by Project Kenya Inc for its ministry activities,” Murigi said.