The Kings Outreach Church affiliated to controversial prophet Edward David Owuor lost Ksh20 million in a purchase that did not go according to plan.
According to court documents, the church had been on a hunt for a parcel of land in Nairobi in 2017 when it planned to build either a high-end hotel or residential houses for sale.
The search led to a man identified as Harrison Chege Kariuki, who told the church management that he had a piece of land that he was willing to trade for Ksh155 million.
He is reported to have convinced the church leadership led by Archbishop Paul Onjoro and Bishop Joseph Masinde, who are considered the church trustees, to wire the Ksh20 million to his accounts as a downpayment.
In the case before the Kiambu Law Courts, the church alleges that after agreeing on the sale of the land LR N0.7785/205, money was wired to Watamu Tours and Travel where Chege Kariuki is the director.
However, Chege allegedly sold the piece of land to a prominent family in the city despite having reached an agreement with the church for the same parcel.
The sentiments were echoed by lead investigator Samson Owaga who sought to convince the court that Chege should be deemed responsible since the Ksh20 million was directly wired to his company's accounts.
"The matter was reported at Gigiri Police Station on January 21, by the complainant through Archbishop Paul Onjoro that on April 6, 2017, the church entered into a Land Sale Agreement with the respondent for the purchase of land known as RUNDA7785/205 measuring 0.6269 hectares situated on Ruaka Road in Runda," the affidavit reads.
According to the court documents, Watamu Tours and Travel was registered in 2000 with Kariuki owning a ninety per cent stake in the company.
The accused was granted a Ksh 400,000 cash bail despite protests from the prosecution that the accused be held in police custody pending investigations.
This will not be the first time that Chege is being embroiled in a scandal.
In 2016, he was accused of allegedly stealing over Ksh 800,000 from the wife of then-Kirinyaga Governor Joseph Ndathi.
The prosecutor, Duncan Ondimu, informed Senior Principal Magistrate Joyce Gandani that the money was meant to pay for eight insurance premium policy number allocated to Ndathi.
