State Set to Demolish Pastor Ng’ang’a’s Church in Sh28 Billion Railway City Push

Kenya Railways Corporation has issued a seven-day demolition notice targeting Neno Evangelism Centre, the sprawling church empire of controversial televangelist Pastor James Ng’ang’a, in a dramatic escalation of a land dispute that has simmered for years.

The state agency’s move to reclaim prime property along Haile Selassie Avenue has set the stage for a showdown with one of Kenya’s most polarizing preachers, whose fiery sermons and run-ins with the law have made him a household name.

The demolition notice, signed by Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga, warns that any structures remaining after the deadline will be brought down at the owners’ cost.

Pastor Ng’ang’a’s church sits on land that Kenya Railways insists forms part of a railway reserve earmarked for the ambitious Sh28 billion Railway City project.

The development, backed by Sh11.9 billion from the United Kingdom government, aims to transform Nairobi’s central railway station into a modern multimodal transport hub capable of moving 30,000 passengers per peak hour.

But the preacher is not going down without a fight.

In 2023, Ng’ang’a obtained a court injunction blocking Kenya Railways from interfering with his property, which he claims to own lawfully.

Court documents reveal the pastor had drawn up plans to develop a commercial complex with at least 20 shops, parking facilities and other amenities on the contested plot.

In a scathing court application, Ng’ang’a accused the state agency of attempting to unlawfully dispossess him after he notified them of his development plans.

The Environment and Land Court granted him temporary protection, with Judge Edward Wabwoto issuing orders restraining Kenya Railways from disturbing the pastor’s quiet enjoyment of the land pending the case’s determination.

The demolition threat extends beyond Ng’ang’a’s empire.

Also in the firing line is Jesus Is Alive Ministries, led by former Starehe MP Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, another politically connected televangelist who has accused the government of betrayal.

Her church compound was partially demolished in 2024 when unknown individuals tore down a perimeter wall, claiming to act on Kenya Railways’ instructions.

Wanjiru, visibly emotional at the time, lamented that the government she had campaigned for was now targeting her ministry.

Two years earlier, the Environment and Land Court had dismissed her petition challenging Kenya Railways’ construction of a wall separating church land from railway property, ruling that she had failed to prove encroachment.

The Railway City project spans 13 acres and promises to revolutionize public transport in the capital.

Plans include laying 45 kilometers of new railway track, constructing a new central station building, building overbridges across platforms, and establishing a freight marshalling yard at Makadara.

The development will feature office blocks, shopping malls and a light industrial hub, with completion initially targeted for 2027.

Two petrol stations and an abandoned construction site are also marked for demolition as Kenya Railways accelerates site clearance for the project.

The corporation says final designs have been completed and procurement processes are underway, signaling that demolitions could begin imminently.

For Pastor Ng’ang’a, whose ministry has weathered numerous controversies including a 2015 road accident that left one person dead, the demolition notice represents yet another legal battle.

Known for his combative style and lavish lifestyle, the preacher has built a religious empire that includes a television station and large congregation.

The standoff mirrors similar disputes across Nairobi where the government has embarked on aggressive land reclamation drives.

Recent evictions in Mariguini displaced over 5,000 families to pave way for affordable housing projects, while Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has cried political persecution after demolitions of Nyayo properties.

As the seven-day ultimatum ticks down, all eyes are on whether Ng’ang’a’s 2023 court injunction will hold or whether bulldozers will roll into Haile Selassie Avenue.

Kenya Railways has made clear it intends to take full possession of the land, setting the stage for what could be one of the most dramatic demolitions in recent memory.

The corporation insists the Railway City project is critical for easing congestion in Nairobi’s central business district and improving connectivity across the metropolitan area.

But for Ng’ang’a and Wanjiru, the price of progress could be the loss of their religious strongholds in the heart of the capital.