A Kisumu investor has sought the help of detectives to have the leadership of a pioneer evangelical church investigated over a land they both claim.
George Okungu, a businessman, has accused the Power of Jesus around the World Church founder Ogonyo Ngede of grabbing his land, and wants the church that was set up in the early 1980s to vacate the 1.6-acre land in Kachok, Milimani.
According to Mr Okungu, the land registered as Bloc 10/456 was leased to him by Kisumu Municipality in 1979 for 99 years.
“In the lease agreement, investors were required to provide proof that they could secure loans from commercial banks for developing the plots. And I was among the many investors who successfully applied for the leases,” said Okungu.
However, a few months later, he landed a plum job in Nairobi, hence his plan stalled. And when he later returned to Kisumu to implement his project, he found the land occupied.
“When I sent surveyors, they told me there was some church establishment on the land. I located the owners and tried to engage them, but it seems they were not ready to vacate my land,” he said.
Okungu has since recorded statements with detectives seeking to have Dr Bishop Ngede investigated, even as he seeks to reclaim his land.
In a newspaper advert by Kisumu County Government on November 23, last year, Okungu was listed among the more than 1,000 land rate defaulters, with his Bloc 10/456 having Sh4,603,370 arrears.
The advert, a recommendation of a land task-force report initiated by Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, was calling for 100 per cent waiver for those who would pay their accumulated rates. “I have since cleared the pending rates,” said Okungu.
Ngede, however, insists that the land belongs to the church, with the church establishment having been on the ground since 1980.
According to Ngede, the church duly applied to be allocated the land with the relevant government agencies. He claims he has supporting documentations.
“I have been approached by the businessman on the land issue but I could not engage him further. Let him go to court,” said Ngede.
Modern church
Ngede said after acquiring the land in 1980, he established a temporary structure, which hosted the church, but later developed it to a modern church house in 2001. The land also hosts a bible school and a primary school.
“Okungu is not the first person to claim this land. Once some construction firm invaded us claiming the land was theirs, but they later moved out. Anybody who wants to demolish the church should prepare for legal consequences,” he said.
