A Nairobi preacher has been driven into hiding due to escalating threats from unidentified individuals, which have intensified amid a dispute over the church’s demolition.
Peter Maithya, affiliated with Bishop Margaret Wanjiru’s Jesus Is Alive Ministries, has expressed grave concerns for his safety as he continues to defend the church against demolition efforts.
Maithya’s fears began to escalate following an attack on the church on 8 March, during which unknown assailants vandalised the church’s parking lot wall and assaulted Wanjiru, injuring her hand and a security officer.
Wanjiru also reported that the assailants stole a guard’s weapon, camera, and phone. She has accused unnamed government agents of orchestrating the attack to suppress dissent within the community.
“The threats became too real and I couldn’t take the risk of returning,” Maithya said.
Initially, he had dismissed the suspicious activities as mere coincidences, but as the threats intensified, he realised they were genuine.
Maithya’s wife, Mary, also received threats demanding to know her husband’s whereabouts. Fearing for her safety, she fled to Tanzania. Meanwhile, Maithya learned from a trusted friend that operatives were actively searching for him, prompting him to seek refuge in an undisclosed location. Their daughter is also in hiding.
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On 23 March, Maithya filed a statement with the Twiga Police Post in Kayole under OB number 10. The situation worsened when he considered returning to Nairobi, only to be warned by his friend about the ongoing search for him.
The conflict between Wanjiru’s church and Kenya Railways has been ongoing, with Kenya Railways claiming ownership of the land occupied by the church and neighbouring properties. This dispute has led to a series of legal battles.
A Nairobi court had previously dismissed a 2022 case filed by Jesus Is Alive Ministries and other plaintiffs challenging the construction of a wall that obstructed access to several key roads, including Railway Lane and Weruga Lane.
Wanjiru contends that the Kenya Kwanza Government ignored her pleas for support and that the alleged demolition was part of a broader effort to stifle her church’s voice.
“This Weruga Lane does not belong to Railways; this is our investment, this is our church property,” she stated. “To attack the church, destroy our property and steal our phones has caused us great harm.”
In light of these events, both Maithya and his family remain in hiding as they continue to seek justice and safety amid the ongoing turmoil.
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