A Kisumu investor now wants a church to vacate a piece of land they both claim, alleging that the latter grabbed the piece of land from him.
George Okumu wants the Power of Jesus Around the World Church to vacate the 1.6 acre piece of land in Kachok, Milimani, which he says was leased to him for 99 years.
The investor has now sought the help of detectives to investigate the church leadership, claiming that he was allocated the land in 1979 by the Kisumu Municipality.
“In the lease agreement, investors were required to provide proof that they could secure loans from commercial banks for developing the plots, and I was among the many investors who successfully applied for the leases,” he told the Standard.
He says that he later landed a job in Nairobi, but was shocked to find the land occupied upon returning, and is now suing the church founder Ogonyo Ngede for land grabbing.
According to Ngede, the church legally acquired the land in 1980, making it the rightful owner, and is ready to engage the complainant in court.
"I have been approached by the businessman on the land issue but I could not engage him further. Let him go to court," he said.
Last year, Okumu was enlisted among land rate defaulters by the Kisumu County Government which claims that he owes it Sh4.6 million in areas.