A bitter land dispute has erupted in Laikipia County, with prominent businessman and the Finger of God Apostle Joseph Hellon accusing Governor Joshua Irungu of orchestrating the fraudulent acquisition of his family’s 704-acre farm through alleged abuse of office and corruption.
The controversy began in February 2022 when Hellon’s farm manager reported that county government contractors had begun drilling a borehole on their property at Pesi Laikipia without authorization.
The land, registered as LR. No. 3308/4, is owned by Hellon’s Investment Counselling Bureau Limited (ICBL), a family company.
According to Hellon’s statement, the governor allegedly used a proxy named Salah Maalio Alio to fraudulently acquire the property, despite the land having a 17-million-shilling charge placed on it by the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC).
The title deed remains in AFC’s custody, making any sale legally impossible.
“The purported purchase of the property by the governor or his proxy was therefore a nullity,” Hellon stated, adding that his family never intended to sell the land and legally could not do so due to the existing encumbrance.
The allegations paint a picture of systematic abuse of county resources.
Hellon claims Governor Irungu used county machinery to construct a perimeter wall around the property and appropriated 24 KPLC-labeled electric poles to build a silo.
The governor allegedly proceeded to cultivate 200 acres of the land, planting soybeans, sorghum, sunflower, and other crops, with harvesting currently underway.
The matter has prompted legal action on multiple fronts.
Hellon has filed a civil case against the alleged proxy Alio at Nanyuki Law Courts and reports that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations has completed their investigation.
The Land Fraud Unit of the DCI is reportedly preparing criminal charges.

Governor Joshua Irungu
Adding another layer to the dispute, Hellon alleges that Governor Irungu used a Nanyuki Magistrate to improperly remove DCI restrictions on the land, claiming this exceeded the magistrate’s legal authority since the property’s value far exceeds the 20-million-shilling limit for magistrate jurisdiction.
When Hellon attempted to arrange a meeting with the governor through farm manager John Waigumi on September 13, 2025, the governor allegedly declined.
Hellon claims Irungu visits the property every Saturday to oversee operations but deliberately avoids confrontation.
The businessman has called for comprehensive investigations by multiple agencies, including the DCI, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Judicial Service Commission.
He has also requested that the Senate initiate impeachment proceedings against the governor for abuse of office and corruption.
Hellon warned of employing what he termed his “esoteric Finger of God powers” and “spirit power that never fails” if government agencies fail to act, adding an unusual spiritual dimension to the legal and political battle.
Governor Irungu’s office has not yet responded to these serious allegations, which could have significant implications for his political career and face potential criminal charges if substantiated.
The dispute continues to unfold in Nanyuki courts as investigations by various government agencies proceed, with the agricultural season adding urgency to the resolution of this complex property battle.