Court halts Kenya Railways construction on land linked to Governor Wamatangi

The Environment and Land Court has stopped further construction and other dealings on a disputed parcel of land near Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, shielding businesses associated with Kiambu Governor Paul Kimani Wamatangi until a Sh14 billion claim against Kenya Railways Corporation is determined.

Justice Oscar Angote barred Kenya Railways, the police and other respondents from undertaking further construction, excavation, development, alteration or interference with the 0.5723-hectare property off Lang'ata Road. The order also protects machinery, rollers and other equipment belonging to four companies linked to the governor: Superclean Shine Enterprise Ltd, King Prime International Ltd, Prime The Place Ltd and Prime Auto and General Enterprises Ltd. The court identified King Prime International's director as Wamatangi.

The companies say King Prime leased the land from Kenya Railways on May 2, 2001 for 99 years, occupied it for more than 25 years and paid rent before structures on the site were demolished on the night of January 13 into January 14, 2026. They are seeking more than Sh14 billion, made up of Sh300 million for demolished structures, Sh100 million for destroyed vehicles and trucks, Sh200 million for construction equipment, Sh150 million for goods stored in containers and Sh13.32 billion in lost rental income for the remaining 74 years of the alleged lease. The site housed a car yard, car wash, garage, restaurant, carpet-cleaning service, small hotels, M-Pesa shops and a barber shop, supporting more than 150 direct jobs and another 500 indirectly, according to the companies.

Kenya Railways disputes the lease, arguing that it was improperly executed, carried no corporate seal and did not conform to its standard terms, and that the land falls within a railway safety reserve. The corporation says the companies had been evicted and that a railway station is being built on the site to serve Talanta Stadium and Nyayo National Stadium ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, with completion due in January 2027 and delays estimated to cost Sh5 million a day.

The judge declined to review his July 9 ruling that lifted earlier protection orders, finding that the companies had failed to disclose a parallel case that was later struck out for lack of jurisdiction. He nevertheless granted fresh protection on the merits, finding that the companies had established a strong case and that Kenya Railways did not deny its intention to keep building. The court said it was not deciding whether the lease is valid, fraudulent or unenforceable, and set the hearing for December 3, 2026.