In a dramatic turn of events that left congregants reeling and worshippers in tears, a long-serving church elder in Awendo Sub-county brought down a church structure he had once generously permitted to stand on his land citing betrayal, unmet personal demands, and broken promises.
Mzee George Ouma, a revered elder at God’s Last Appeal Church (Luong Mogik) in Sangla Kagak, North Sakwa Ward,Awendo, Migori county stunned the faithful on Thursday when he interrupted a prayer service reportedly expelling even the sick who were undergoing healing before personally overseeing the demolition of the sanctuary.
“I gave out my land to the church, but I have not benefited at all,” Ouma told reporters at the scene, visibly agitated. “People are eating while I am starving. They should use common sense to see whether my life is okay or not. That is why I decided to bring the church down and send them away.”
Ouma, who supports two households, said his decision stemmed from what he claimed were unfulfilled informal agreements tied to his land donation. According to him, church leaders had implicitly promised assistance with school fees for his children, support for his family’s welfare, and help in maintaining peace within his extended family none of which materialized.
Church leadership has expressed shock and disappointment. Bishop Ken Ngaji, speaking after the incident, acknowledged Ouma had indeed donated the land following a powerful personal healing testimony years earlier but clarified that no formal or written agreement was ever made.
“We are shocked and saddened by the turn of events,” said the bishop. “This should be a lesson. Anyone donating land to a religious institution should do so wholeheartedly, and if conditions are involved, they must be formally documented. We are now urgently seeking an alternative location for our worship.”
The abrupt demolition has ignited outrage among local residents and congregants, some of whom wept as the structure came down.
“This was completely unexpected and heartbreaking,” said a long-time member of the congregation. “We had no idea the elder was harboring such frustrations.”
Local authorities say investigations are underway, although no official charges have been filed. The incident has sparked fresh debate on the legal and ethical risks of informal land gifts to religious institutions a practice still widespread in rural Kenya.
Legal experts and civic leaders are now calling for more robust frameworks to govern such donations, warning that lack of clarity and formal agreements can lead to explosive outcomes.
As the dust settles in Sangla Kagak, one thing remains clear: behind the sacred trust of land donations, expectations whether spoken or not can carry weight heavy enough to bring down even a house of worship.
