Kitengela PCEA Gives Way Forward After Eviction From Ksh650 Million Property

Rt. Reverend Thegu Mutahi (left) and the PCEA Church in Kajiado.
Rt. Reverend Thegu Mutahi (left) and the PCEA Church in Kajiado.
Photo
PCEA

The Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) Kitengela is planning to appeal a ruling in which the High Court ordered its members to vacate the two-acre church complex valued at Ksh650 million.

Speaking to the press, Reverend Thegu Mutahi noted that the management of the church was considering several other options.

He further indicated that before the appeal is filed, the church is awaiting the full judgment by the court which had ordered its members to vacate the parcel within 60 days.

"After a ruling is made, people can always appeal. That is one of the options available," stated the Reverend.

Entrance to Kajiado Law Courts.
Entrance to Kajiado Law Courts.
Photo
Joseph Ole Lenku

"We also know that our courts encourage alternative dispute resolutions. Other than appealing, we know that there are other options available. All those options are before us."

The pastor noted that the ruling dealt a blow to the community that relied on the center which has a church complex with a capacity of 1,200 people, a school, and offices housing a sacco.

"This is a very big establishment. There is a very big community of students and worshippers who know other places but here," Mutahi added.

"This place has shaped so many people spiritually and intellectually because many students attended the school here."

On Friday, a court in Kajiado directed that the property standing on the parcel be demolished after establishing that the church acquired its title deed irregularly.

The case pitted the Presbyterian Church against the Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA). 

EPZA insisted that it acquired the parcel in 1991 but the church claimed that it purchased the deed from individuals of Indian descent in 2002.

"The land in question was acquired fraudulently, I, therefore, rule that the occupants vacate the place within sixty days," ruled the judge.

An image of  a legal scale and a gavel.
An image of a legal scale and a gavel.
Photo
JSC