The Secrets of Kitengela land wars

At least three pieces of land, buildings and millions of shillings in cash are at the centre of a vicious war between former adherents of Mungiki sect and some land dealers in Kajiado and Machakos counties.

A fallout between ex-Mungiki leader Maina Njenga and the owner of the plot where his Hope International Church is situated in Kitengela precipitated the land clashes that have now left at least seven people dead.
Mr Njenga fell out with Mr Lawrence Thiong’o Kagicha over a con game that has seen some of his ardent supporters lose money in land and property deals.

The land dealers collected at least Sh60,000 from youths to subdivide chunks of land which have now turned out to be private property.

Other youths were asked to buy shares worth Sh200,000 to own among other things three buildings in Kitengela.

The properties in dispute spread across Kitengela and Olooloitikoshi locations, according to documents obtained by Sunday Nation.

Most of Mr Njenga’s followers are now claiming their money back from the land dealers who in retaliation have hired some of the former adherents of the sect as their defence forces.

Investigations show the problem has persisted for more than 10 years but only became public after Mr Njenga and Mr Kagicha differed.

Some of Mr Njenga’s followers are already eking out a living elsewhere, hence their ability to pay for the shares while Mr Kagicha’s group is yet to benefit from the sect’s exploits and now want their share.

Central in the controversy is the ownership of Kiandas Ltd, an investment company originally called Kianda kia Gema. The company had been founded by the early Kikuyu settlers in Kitengela and owned more than 10 prime properties in the area.

About 200 youths were lured to buy shares of Kiandas Ltd, which owned the building that hosts the popular joint Midas Restaurant in Kitengela and another commercial building behind Kobil Petrol station, formerly known as City View building.

Local administration officials who cannot be named for protocol reasons confirmed Kiandas Ltd had failed to fulfill its part of the bargain, resulting to the uprising among the shareholders.

Share certificates available shows they were signed by, among other officials, Mr Kagicha.

“If the directors of Kiandas had allowed ownership of the properties to the youths, this matter would not have escalated,” said a government official.

The Njenga-Kagicha war also emanate from the rent of the church. The church pays rent to Mr Kagicha’s estranged wife, Winnie Wamaitha, according to money transfer records available.

The latest money sent to her was on Friday and according to Ms Wamaitha, the money was to pay for some of her children’s school fees. She is a mother of three.

However, Mr Kagicha disputes this and says the church does not pay rent but compensates for destruction of some buildings in the compound.

“The place is not worth Sh20,000 a month. I gave them the church in good faith and did not know it would come to this,” said Mr Kagicha.

Another controversial property is a rental house in Makadara estate in Athi River whose incomes shareholders of Kiandas Ltd do not enjoy. Both properties rake in more than Sh100,000 a month, documents show.