Nairobi church faces eviction from public land after losing suit

Tuesday, May 26, 2020 0:01

By JOSEPH WANGUI

Bishop Arthur Kitonga of the Redeemed Gospel Church.

FILE PHOTO | NMG 

The Redeemed Gospel Church Nairobi is facing eviction from a piece of public land that it was illegally allocated by the defunct City Council in the populous Umoja II Estate 22 years ago.

Though the church defended the allocation for the parcel as legal the Land Court has ruled it was unlawful since the property was reserved for a community social hall in the expansive residential area.

In restoring the land to community utilisation, the court relied on evidence from three reports that had recommended revocation of the title the church held as well as the allotment letter.

The National Land Commission (NLC) also investigated the legality of the allocation of the suit property to the church under its power to review grants and dispositions of public land.