This archive report was first published on 22 July 2019.
On July 22, 2019, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) revealed that the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) had failed to clear a debt of Sh1.6 million owed to the government for more than seven years.
The debt stems from an overpayment made to ACK St Lukes Namanga of Sh1.6 million for a land deal in August 2012. The church was paid Sh6,665,455 for land acquisition that paved the way for the construction of Namanga One Stop Border Post, but the value of the land was later revised downwards to Sh4,997,200, indicating an overpayment of Sh1,688,200.
KeNHA wrote to the ACK Archbishop, Jackson Ole Sapit, in a letter dated July 12, 2016, seeking settlement of the debt. The agency informed the church that the debt was queried by government auditors and that the enquiries were portraying the church negatively.
Transport and Infrastructure Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Chris Obure said both Archbishop Sapit and his predecessor, Eliud Wabukhala, had been adequately engaged over the matter.
“This is public money for which someone must be accountable,” Mr Obure said.
On August 26, 2015, then Anglican Archbishop Wabukhala wrote to the bishop of Kajiado diocese, Gaddiel K. Lenini, asking him to arrange for repayment of the debt in instalments.
