The Legion Maria Church has asked the government to allocate it land after its church in Embakasi East constituency was flattened during demolition of structures on riparian land.
The church further appealed to the government to help it put up a new structure to replace the one brought down.
“Being a religious person, we expect the President to intervene and expedite the process. We deservedly need government compensation for this. This church has to be considered in resettlement plans,” Rev Wycliffe Nyaperah, who is the secretary general of Legion Maria of African Church Mission Episcopal Conference, said.
The church further requested Embakasi East MP Babu Owino to come out strongly and enable them to set up a new church in the area
“We strongly believe his intervention shall be of great help. Both the President and the area Member of Parliament are our leaders. They should intervene and help us get a new church,” Nyaperah told the Star.
He said it was shocking that the national government ordered the demolition of their church; St. Edward Legion Maria Church located in Lower Savannah Ward – Soweto area in Embakasi East Constituency.
“This harsh action of a daytime raid in the presence of a large contingent of police officers has created a nightmare and fear psychosis amongst our church members who know the church as a sacred place where God dwells and no man has authority to destroy it,” he said.
Nyaperah claimed that the demolished church is over 200 meters from the Soweto River and ought not to have been brought down as the said riparian area is several meters away.
He said the church has been in existence for over 30 years now and subsequent governments have never questioned its location and proximity to any water body.
“It is a church that has all the necessary paperwork and approvals for its structures yet the government just goes ahead to demolish it,” he lamented.
He said the church was demolished in such a hurry with no due diligence and issuance of a proper notice.
He added that such hurried action not only violates the religious rights of the people but disturbs the harmony of the country as a whole.
“It is religious places that provide a place to pray for peace, justice and harmony which the government needs more for tranquillity amongst its people,” he explained.
