“This Is LR No. 160, 100 Plots Apart”: A Nairobi Church Says It Was Demolished on the Wrong Land

• Jesus Christ Our Hope Ministry in Ruai, Nairobi, was demolished by armed men.
• The eviction order issued by Milimani Commercial Courts on March 19, 2025 covered LR No. 60; the church stands on LR No. 160.
• Damage was estimated at more than 1 million Kenyan shillings.
• The church reportedly hosted more than 80 orphans and vulnerable children.

A church on the outskirts of Nairobi says it was torn down under a court order meant for a different plot. The Star (Kenya) reported outrage after Jesus Christ Our Hope Ministry in Ruai was demolished in broad daylight.

The church, a mabati (corrugated iron) structure, stands on land registered as LR No. 160. The eviction order issued by the Milimani Commercial Courts on March 19, 2025 covered LR No. 60. Archbishop Wallace Gitau Chiri said: “The court order was for LR No. 60. This is LR No. 160, 100 plots apart.”

According to the report, the demolition was carried out by people armed with machetes, hammers, crowbars and knives, while a white Toyota Prado carrying people believed to be police officers was present. Damage was estimated at more than 1 million Kenyan shillings; chairs, kitchenware and musical equipment were destroyed. The church reportedly hosted more than 80 orphans and vulnerable children, who fled.

Ruai Sub-County Police Commander Martin Wasike denied police involvement: “No officers from Ruai police station were assigned to supervise this demolition.”

The story turns on a single number in a land reference, and that is exactly why it matters to property owners everywhere. In Jamaica, volume and folio numbers, survey plans and boundary markers are what separate one lot from the next, and errors or confusion can have serious consequences. Churches, like any landowner, should keep certified copies of their titles and survey plans, make sure the boundaries on the ground match the documents, and act quickly if anyone serves a notice that seems to relate to the wrong land. For owners overseas, a trusted person on the ground who can respond fast is part of protecting the investment.