.A long-simmering land dispute within one of Kenya’s oldest independent churches reached a dramatic climax today as Archbishop John Mweresa of the African Israel Nineveh Church was found guilty of fraudulently acquiring church property.
Principal Magistrate Nicodemus Moseti, presiding over the Hamisi court, delivered the damning verdict, stating that the court possessed sufficient and compelling evidence to convict the influential spiritual leader.
The evidence presented during the protracted trial confirmed that Archbishop Mweresa had actively forged documents and manipulated land records in an attempt to unlawfully seize ownership of the church’s valuable parcel situated in Jebrok, Vihiga County.
The conviction marks a significant moment in a case that has tragically defined the church for over a decade.
Archbishop Mweresa’s legal team immediately sought release on bail, but their plea was rejected by Magistrate Moseti, who ordered that the Archbishop be remanded in custody until the sentencing hearing.
The court is scheduled to pronounce the sentence on November 10, 2025.
The legal battle’s conclusion brings a degree of closure to a painful chapter in the history of the African Israel Nineveh Church.
The dispute over the church’s assets and leadership has dragged on for about ten years, at one point plunging the community into chaos and forcing the closure of the main church premises.
The intense rivalry and land-related animosity surrounding the case escalated tragically, making national headlines and resulting in more than ten fatalities in brutal clashes between warring factions of church followers and some leaders.
This landmark ruling is expected to have far-reaching implications for the future leadership and stability of the historic church.
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