Pastor Nganga seeks court protection from prosecution over Ksh.3.6M rent arrears

Controversial Pastor James Ng’ang’a on Monday moved to court seeking to stop his intended prosecution over refusal to pay rent arrears amounting to Ksh.3.6 million.

Ng’ang’a said the criminal investigations against him are based on a purely commercial transaction which falls under the ambit of a civil suit.

He added that his intended prosecution is a contravention of his fundamental right to fair trial, fair administrative action and that it amounts to an abuse of the legal process.

Wickson Njoroge Mwathi, the Inspector General of Police, Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the DPP have been named as respondents in the case.

The controversial preacher now wants the court to stop the office of the DPP from prosecuting him pending the hearing and determination of his petition.

Through his lawyer, Ng’ang’a argued that he has been subjected to “untold mental and psychological anguish and torture” by the acts of the respondents whom he claims are hell bent on depriving him of his freedom and security.

He also argued that the move to prosecute him is an attempt to exert illegal and unlawful pressure to make the payment of Ksh.3.6 million to Mr. Mwathi as lease agreement for a seven-bedroom house in Karen.

“The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respondents have instituted criminal investigations and intend to prosecute the petitioner on Tuesday in respect to a complaint lodged by the 1st respondents which is purely a civil matter arising out of a lease agreement on L.R No.7792/25&7792/26 Karen, Nairobi, entered into on April 6, 2016,” read court papers.

The embattled televangelist said Mr. Mwathi is only being used as a tool for personal score-setting and individual vendetta.

The preacher, who is out on police bond, claimed he was to be charged last Friday but the bond was extended to Tuesday after the Investigating Officer told him his file was still undergoing investigations.