Pastor James Ng’ang’a, of Neno Evangelism Centre, has refuted allegations of land grabbing from Kenya Railways Corporation. He asserts that he purchased the land from the Central Bank of Kenya for KES 42 million,
While appearing before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Lands on Thursday, Ng’ang’a narrated how he acquired the land after it was put up for sale by the government itself in 2004.
“I started preaching in Mombasa before later coming to Nairobi. In 2004, I saw a ‘land for sale’ sign from CBK, when I went to inquire about it they told me the price was KES 32 million, but they told me to pay 10% and the rest within 90 days,” he said.
Shortly afterwards, Ng’ang’a stated, the land was put back on sale, which forced him to re-apply and now purchase the land for KKES 42 million.
“We signed the agreement and Equity helped me pay the amount. I finished paying the loan around 2008 and I was given the title under the name ‘Neno Evangelism Centre.'”
He said that since he purchased the parcel, no one ever claimed it until 2020, when Kenya Railways Corporation wrote to him demanding he returns their title deed. He said he wrote back and clarified that he did not owe the corporation a title deed as the CBK had sold him the prime parcel of land
He was later summoned by former Cabinet Secretary James Macharia and former Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) Director-General Maj-Gen Mohammed Badi to clear the air on the matter.
“I showed them all the supporting documents and they said ‘We don’t have this in our records’ and I was never called again,” added Ng’ang’a.
The lands committee hence gave the preacher 14 days to submit all supporting documents for ownership of the contentious parcel. EACC says that parcels, LR. Nos. 209/12492, 209/9640, 209/12361, 209/9641, and 209/12133, were originally intended for use by KRC but are now owned by private individuals.
The commission noted that parcel number 209/12361, owned by Apostle Ng’ang’a, was part of a road junction intended to improve traffic safety and visibility.
