Drama as church, locals fight over title of donated land

A tussle over public utility land in Ime area of Solai almost disrupted a church service after locals threatened to storm the church to demand a title deed.

The protestors accused the Anglican Church of Kenya Ime leadership of taking over four acres intended for a hospital and failing to develop it.

“The community had donated land for a hospital and the church came in promising to develop it. It is almost 20 years and the church is yet to build a hospital. The current dispensary standing on the land was built by the community. We want the church to hand over the land to the community so that we can look for a well-wisher to develop it,” said Mary Wanjiru, a resident.

Police officers intervened to keep the protestors at bay. With their church-invasion plans foiled, the residents instead stormed the dispensary and changed its name from AIC Ime Dispensary to Ime Dispensary.

The locals accused Rev John Kirogo of sabotage, saying instead of handing over the title deed, he had challenged them to take the matter to court.

But Reverend Kirogo denied the allegations and said the residents had agreed that the land changes ownership, but the church had been unable to attract sponsors to build a hospital.

He said the title deed was not under his care but with the board of trustees at the church headquarters.