In a turn of events that has reverberated through the religious and business sectors in the city, two significant churches in Nairobi — Pastor James Ng’ang’a’s Neno Evangelism Centre and Bishop Margaret Wanjiru’s Jesus Is Alive Ministries among them — are now facing the possibility of being razed as the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) is intent on executing its extensive Sh28 billion Railway City redevelopment plan. The situation has developed quickly with the issuance of vacate notices and the speeding up of reclamation activities.
The KRC’s project Railway City thermal bath includes not only the elderly turnstiles-named Nairobi Central Railway Station but also the primary railway line and the main road (Haile Selassie Avenue, Uhuru Highway, and Bunyala Road).
This area will eventually be the place where not only long-distance trains will arrive but also the buses will have their stop. The repackaging of the whole area will include new facilities, paths for pedestrians, plus even light industry.
KRC Managing Director Philip Mainga has signed the formal notices wherein “unauthorised persons” were occupying the declared railway reserve land and were given a week’s time to leave. Notice about the demolition of the structures still existing after the end of the week at the owner’s cost is prominently included in the notices. Church properties including Ng’ang’a’s Neno Evangelism Centre and land occupied by Bishop Wanjiru’s ministry are listed among those at risk.
The imminent action has triggered a new round of disputes each dealing with the ownership of land and rights over it. Pastor Ng’ang’a had previously obtained a court order restraining from interfering with his property, arguing that it was legally acquired and that he was right in setting his claim against KRC’s.
The fate of the case is uncertain as the KRC moves its timeline for redevelopment despite the legal wrangles that continue.
The history of Bishop Wanjiru’s church compound is also full of conflicts; in 2024, the demolition of some segments of its surrounding wall led to accusations of using force and betrayal directed towards a minister who was deeply rooted in politics and was accused of being the main actor causing the conflict.
Residents and merchants in the vicinity of the railway reserve have become anxious as the arrival of bulldozers and enforcement schemes point to the near start of eviction activities. Detractors claim that the overall impact on the public, especially the faith- based communities, small shops, and weak tenants has not been sufficiently considered even though the infrastructure has been improved which benefits the public.
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