Prophet Owuor demands apology, threatens to sue the Star over expose

Prophet David Owuor has threatened to sue the Star newspaper over an exposé linking him to a multibillion-shilling property row with a bishop in his church.

Through lawyer Okong'o Omogeni, Owuor yesterday wrote a letter to the Star, demanding that the paper apologises in seven days or face court action.

Omogeni said the stories ridiculed and damaged the reputation and good standing of the prophet and the church in society.

“In the consequence, our client’s name has been seriously damaged in character, credit and reputation and its status as a church of God has further been brought into serious public scandal, ridicule, odium and contempt,” the letter read.

Omogeni said he was instructed by the board of trustees of Owuor's Repentance and Holiness Ministry and the National Council and College of Bishops of the church to demand the apology.

“This candid letter is to caution your publication to cease and desist from defaming and or making false publications concerning our clients,” he said.

Last week, the Star published accounts of the family of Jayne Muthoni who accused the church and the prophet of brainwashing her and taking control of her vast property in Nairobi and elsewhere.

The stories were based on documents and interviews with family members who stormed the Dove Court apartments, off Raphta Road, Westlands, one of Muthoni's assets. The DCI is investigating.

The family claimed that Muthoni was brainwashed to appoint Lilly Macharia, a church member, as a co-director of her Shaba Investments Limited.

Macharia said Muthoni appointed her after she developed memory lapse. But the family said she has never experienced memory lapses and claimed she could have been placed under the influence of drugs that caused her memory loss.

Omogeni, in the demand letter, however, said his client has never brainwashed any member of his congregation. He said members join the church on their own accord and volition.

“It is not true as alleged that our client in any manner engaged in unethical conduct of acquiring its congregation’s properties.”

Omogeni said neither the church nor Owuor have ever taken or allocated themselves congregants' properties to fund their activities.

“It is not true that the church has been involved in acts of stealing and or acquiring property illegally,” he said.

Omogeni said the DCI has neither summoned nor questioned Owuor in connection with the matter.