Githurai Pastor Accused of Defrauding Kenyans in the US of Sh6.8 Million

Catherine Wairimu Ng’ang’a, a pastor from Arise and Healing and Deliverance Church located in Githurai, appeared before Milimani court Senior Principal Magistrate Zainab Abdul on four counts of obtaining money through false pretences.

It was established that she had defrauded Sh6.8 million from two sisters and their friends living in the United States under the guise of buying them land in Nairobi. The trio identified as Noel Njeri Ngure, Lilian Muthoni Ngure and Anne Nyambura Njogu remitted the colossal sum to Catherine between February and September 2021. She pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Noel testified before the magistrate that Pastor Wairimu had obtained Sh4 million by claiming to have a plot of land (Mowlem/Nairobi Block 169/285) for sale. Wairimu who was arrested on May 28, 2023 and held in police custody is accused of receiving Sh4m across different dates between February 1 and August 12, 2021.

Between March 12 and August 12, 2021, it was alleged that the preacher received Sh1,735,000 from Lilian under the pretext of being able to offer her a parcel of land with the reference number Mowlem/Nairobi Block 169/287. Further, it was claimed that on August 31 and September 24, 2021, she received Sh900,000 from Lilian, alleging she would sell her three stalls at the New Wakulima Kangundo Road Market.

The fourth accusation against the preacher was that she tricked Ann out of Sh253,200, pretending that she was in a position to sell her a parcel of land in Mowlem/Nairobi Block 169/286. The suspect requested to be released on bail, assuring the court that she would abide by its instructions. The prosecution did not oppose her release on bond, Ms Abdul granted her a cash bail amounting to Sh500,000 plus one contact person. Her case is slated for June 12, 2023, for further directions.