Reports claiming that Apostle James Ng’ang’a’s Neno Evangelism Ministry Church, located opposite the Nairobi Railway Station, had been demolished have been debunked following a fact-check.
The claims went viral on social media on Tuesday, January 20, after undated photos surfaced showing an excavator allegedly tearing down the church building as crowds watched from a distance.
The images were accompanied by captions alleging that government officials had moved in to demolish the church to pave the way for the construction of a railway line.
Viral Images Found to Be AI-Generated
However, a spot check conducted by Kwetucollections.co.ke established that the image circulating online was generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and did not depict a real demolition scene.
Using verification tools such as AI Image Detector and NoteGPT, the image was rated as 60 per cent AI-generated, raising serious doubts about its authenticity.
Key Inconsistencies in the Image
Several inconsistencies suggested the photo was not genuine, including:
- Unnatural falling patterns of debris
- Unrealistic textures of rubble
- Distorted branding on the excavator
- Absence of a driver inside the excavator
- Blurred and poorly defined figures of onlookers
- Abnormal distance between the excavator and the church structure
These visual flaws strongly indicated the image was artificially created rather than captured during an actual demolition.
No Official Confirmation of Demolition
Further checks revealed that no government agency, the Nairobi County Government, or the National Police Service (NPS) had issued any statement confirming the demolition of Apostle Ng’ang’a’s church.
At the time of publishing, the church — which hosts hundreds of worshippers — was still intact, with no evidence of planned or ongoing demolitions at the site.
Concerns Over AI Misinformation
The incident has reignited concerns over the misuse of AI-generated content on social media, particularly content designed to provoke outrage, spread misinformation, and drive engagement.
Experts have warned that realistic AI images pose a growing challenge for public trust, especially when shared without verification.
Context: Ongoing Kenya Railways Demolitions
The misleading claims emerged against the backdrop of ongoing demolitions of structures located on Kenya Railways Corporation land within Nairobi.
Most recently, a car wash linked to Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi was demolished on the night of January 14, leaving behind damaged vehicles and destroyed businesses.
The demolition sparked debate over properties located near railway land, including renewed scrutiny of the location of Pastor Ng’ang’a’s church, which sits close to the Nairobi Railway Station.
Public Urged to Verify Viral Content
Authorities and media watchdogs continue to urge Kenyans to verify viral images and claims before sharing them online, warning that AI-generated misinformation is becoming increasingly sophisticated.