Some members of ACK St.Marks Church in Westland are accusing the Nairobi Diocese headed by Bishop Joel Waweru of scheming to grab land belonging to the Parish.
The faithful say the church bought the land, registration number 1870/111/159, way back in 1964.According to members, the diocese is in the process of developing the plot having encroached on the same without the consent of faithfuls of St Marks church.
The land in dispute is located along School Lane.
Among grievances raised by members against the diocese include; failure to a sign a lease agreement, building of illegal structures without approval of the church and relevant authorities and failure to pay rent commensurating with current market rate.
The Church Commissioners of Kenya (CCK) was registered as the proprietor and trustee of the land in dispute. The petitioners claim the diocese is forcefully occupying the land, and in the process denying the church Sh 9 million in accrued income.
“We wish to state categorically that the diocese of Nairobi and its bishop have no lawful cause or justification to take over and assert ownership over the said property, let alone enter into a joint venture with third parties whose real beneficiaries remain a mystery,” says members.
Members claim St. Marks church and the diocese have a long history of conflict never witnessed in other parishes under the diocese.