New Twist in Pastor James Ng'ang'a of Neno Evangelism Murder Case after His Acquittal

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has ordered for a fresh probe into controversial Pastor James Ng'ang'a murder case.

The Neno Evangelism preacher was last week acquitted of the charge of causing the death of a woman through dangerous driving in 2015.

Ng'ang'a was cleared by a Limuru court on May 4th on grounds that the prosecution failed to prove its case, a ruling that has sparked public outcry. 

In a letter to the Director of Criminal Investigations Noordin Haji and Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet, the CS said the government is dissatisfied with the decision by Magistrate Godfrey Oduor to clear Ng'ang'a.

He further questions the ruling, stating that the evidence implicating the pastor was sufficient to convict him.

“The ministry notes with surprise the acquittal handed down in the above case where we believe a brazen crime was committed by the accused person,” reads a letter written by the CS and copied to Mr Haji and IG Joseph Boinnet.

“While seeking a report on the investigatory and trial processes that may have caused this outcome, I urge you to appeal this judgment in its entirety and pursue justice for the victims herein and the people of Kenya.”

Ng’ang’a was cleared alongside driver Simon Kuria and police officers Christopher Nzioka and Patrick Baya. The televangelist was charged with dangerous driving in 2015 after his car crashed head-on into a Nissan three years ago at Manguo area in Limuru, killing Mercy Njeri, a passenger in the Nissan.

Witnesses said that the preacher was behind the wheel at the time of the accident, but another man, Mr Kuria, later claimed he had been the one driving.

Njeri’s husband, Martin Mbugua, sustained serious injuries during the crash. The pastor was further accused of failing to report the accident and giving false information to a police officer.

The crash allegedly involved a speeding red Range Rover belonging to Ng'ang'a and a Nissan March belonging to Njeri and her husband. There were reports that the pastor fled the scene of the accident using a colleague's Range Rover.