Controversial preacher James Ng’ang’a has disclosed that the land where his Neno Evangelism Centre church sits was purchased at KSh42 million.
Pastor Ng’ang’a made his submissions while appearing before National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Lands on Thursday, March 14.
Neno Evangelism Centre is located along Haile Selassie Avenue in Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) bordering Kenya Railways Corporation terminus.
The televangelist claimed that he bought the piece of land from Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) at KSh42 million over two decades ago.
According to Ng’ang’a, the piece of land was put up for sale by government 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 KSh32 million, but they told me to pay 10% and the rest within 90 days,” he narrated.
A few weeks later however, the price was gazetted at KSh42 million. He expressed interest to purchase the land and the acquisition process kicked off.
“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.”
Contention for the land in question arose in 2020 with neighbouring Kenya Railways Corporation. The parastatal issued Ng’ang’a with a notice dated January 3, 2020 seeking to reclaim the land where his church sits.
At the time, he even threatened to sue the corporation for terming him a land grabber.
A week ago, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) filed legal action to reclaim the parcel of land where Pastor Ng’ang’a and Bishop Margaret Wanjiru’s churches sit.
EACC argued that parcels, LR. Nos. 209/12492, 209/9640, 209/12361, 209/9641, and 209/12133, were originally intended for use by the Kenya Railways Corporation but are now owned by private individuals.
Parcels of land LR. No. 209/9640 and LR. No. 209/12361 are registered under Neno Evangelism Center Registered Trustees and James Maina Nganga respectively.
