Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has suffered losses after a midnight demolition operation saw bulldozers and excavators, escorted by police officers, move into business premises linked to him along Douglas Wakiihuri Road, off Lang’ata Road in Nairobi.
The overnight exercise resulted in the destruction of semi-permanent structures, vehicles and other property at the site. Several establishments, including a car yard, a car wash and a restaurant, were affected.
By morning, debris from the demolished structures remained at the scene, with sections of Douglas Wakiihuri Road temporarily restricted, disrupting movement in the area.
The demolitions were carried out near the railway line close to Nyayo Stadium, under heavy police presence. Officers cordoned off the area as contractors undertook the exercise.
Nairobi Police Commander George Seda confirmed that police were deployed to provide security as Kenya Railways moved to repossess the land. He said no injuries were reported during the operation.
“The management says they notified the owner of the property to vacate, but there was resistance. We came in to support the demolition,” Seda said.
Officials indicated that the clearance is linked to planned developments along the railway corridor near Talanta Stadium.
The demolitions came just days after Governor Wamatangi, through his company, moved to court seeking protection against what he described as threats of demolition. In a petition filed at the Milimani Commercial Magistrates’ Court, he argued that the land belongs to Kenya Railways but has been leased to his company for more than 20 years, with rent allegedly paid and acknowledged throughout that period.
According to the court documents, individuals said to be acting on behalf of Kenya Railways visited the premises in December and issued verbal instructions to vacate, without serving a formal eviction notice.
The application contends that the demolition would violate constitutional protections on the right to property and fail to meet legal eviction procedures under the Land Act.
“Throughout this period, the Applicant has duly paid rent which has been consistently received and/or acknowledged by the 1st Respondent (Kenya Railways Corporation), thereby affirming a valid and subsisting tenancy,” the petition states.
The case had been scheduled for hearing at the Milimani Commercial Court on Monday, January 12, 2026.
Governor Wamatangi had not issued an official statement on the demolitions by the time of publication. However, aides close to him suggested the action may have been politically motivated, a claim that had not been independently verified.