Commercial Projects

Apostle Ng’ang’a Fights to Stop Neno Land Takeover

Kenya Railways claims to be the owner of the disputed property.

Updated on

November 17, 2023

Apostle James Maina Ng’ang’a of the Neno Evangelism Centre has been ordered by state officials to stop all pre-construction activity at his Uhuru Highway property until an ownership dispute is heard and determined.

The preacher, whose church sits on a one-acre plot at the intersection of Uhuru Highway and Haile Selassie Avenue in Nairobi, says the Kenya Railways has asked him to pause any works on site pending the determination of the case.

“I have received a letter from the Kenya Railways saying that this land belongs to them. They have asked me not to develop the land until a case that is in court is determined,” Apostle Ng’ang’a told his church members on Sunday.

“I bought this land in 2004 from the Central Bank of Kenya,” he added.

This is not the first time the state corporation has sent a letter to the apostle. On February 3, 2020, the company informed Mr. Ng’ang’a of its intention to take over the church’s land, claiming it was illegally acquired from the parastatal.

“[Neno Evangelism] encroaches on land initially reserved for railway use,” Kenya Railways said, asking the church to surrender documents pertaining to the “irregular” allocation of the land.

But in a quick rejoinder, Mr. Ng’ang’a, who claims to have paid Sh42 million to buy the land from the Kenya Finance Investment Company (formerly Kenya Finance Corporation), vowed to stage a legal battle to retain ownership of the property.

“The owner of this field operated a bank that borrowed money from the Central Bank. The bank went under, and CBK seized the property, which it sold to pay [the] depositors,” he said.

The Neno Evangelism Centre plans to build a multi-storey commercial building dubbed Neno Tower consisting of offices, shops, a hotel and a hospital.

Apostle Ng’ang’a maintains he is the legal owner of the property and has vowed to defend his property ownership rights to pave the way for the church projects.

This latest scuffle comes at a time when Kenya Railways is reclaiming its seized land to create space for the implementation of the Nairobi Rail Masterplan.

The scheme incorporates the reshaping and construction of a huge transport hub on the 273-acre Kenya Railways headquarters land, as well as the erection of flyover roads connecting it with key roads.

If implemented, the project is expected to gift the Kenyan capital a new railway station that integrates with the Nairobi Bus Rapid Transit scheme and other public transport modes.

The new station is projected to ensure a seamless connection among commuter rail, 3BRTs, airport limousines, city buses, and non-motorised transport like bicycles.