The family of Jayne Muthoni has accused Prophet David Owuor and his Repentance and Holiness Church of controlling Sh1.5 billion in properties, including assets tied to the late Interior Minister George Saitoti, according to a DCI investigation initiated in March 2019.
Muthoni, a former associate of Saitoti, reportedly received properties from the minister, who died in a 2012 helicopter crash. The family claims Owuor's church seized these assets, with some generating over Sh10 million monthly in rent. They allege the prophet and senior bishops pressured Muthoni into appointing Lilly Njage, a church affiliate, as a co-director of her company, Shaba Investment Limited.
A March 2019 statement from 12 church bishops denied the claims, calling them "sheer blackmail of the prophet and the church." However, the bishops struggled to explain why they did not inform the family about Muthoni's decision to appoint a co-director or her health condition, which family members said involved memory lapses.
Muthoni's sister Alyce revealed the family had handed over property documents to investigators, noting their sister lived in poverty despite the wealth. "There was not even an onion in the kitchen," she said. The family also accused Owuor of occupying Muthoni's Riverside Drive home, which was previously owned by Saitoti and featured a swimming pool where Owuor 'dipped' politician Raila in 2009.
The case has intensified scrutiny of religious leaders' financial practices, with the family demanding transparency on how income from Muthoni's properties is spent. A separate investigation is examining the sale of a Sh800 million Thika property linked to Muthoni's company. The dispute follows 2018 lawsuits by Owuor's church against bloggers for defamation.
