American Priest Lodges Appeal after Losing Ownership of Multi-Billion Shilling Kenyan Hospital

An American priest who lost the ownership of multi-billion shilling hospital in Kenya to a group of nuns has moved to the appellate court to contest a High Court ruling that declared the Assumption Sisters of Nairobi the legal owners of the facility.

Dr William Charles Fryda of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers Society, now wants the appeal court to reverse the decision by high court and grant him ownership rights to St Marys Mission Hospital located along Nairobi-Nakuru highway at the Gilgil area.

Through his lawyer Esther Mwangi, Fyrda wants the appellate court to suspend the lower court"s verdict pending the hearing of the appeal case

Last week, Environment and Land Court judge Sila Munyao ruled the Catholic nuns were the rightful owners of the hospitals worth billions of shillings.

The Sisters were awarded ownership following a dispute with the American missionary that lasted in in court for more than six years. Each of the two parties had claim ownership to the property.

In his judgment, Justice Munyao directed Dr Fryda to transfer the ownership of the health institutions to the sisters, whom he ruled were entrusted by the donors to manage it.

Dr Fryda lodged the suit in 2011 to eject the Sisters from the hospital premises, accusing them og interfering with the management of the medical institutions.

Justice Munyao said evidence presented before the court proved that the hospital was to be under the management of the sisters.

In his submissions before court, the priest claimed to have founded and was the chief executive officer of the facility.

He accused the nuns of attempting to throw him out and take charge of the property yet he bought the land where the facility stands using his own money and funds he solely solicited from donors.