Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has moved to court seeking to block the proposed degazettement of Capital Hill Police Station, citing serious security and legal concerns over its impact on Nairobi’s Upper Hill business and institutional hub.
In a statement on Saturday, Sonko said he had instructed his lawyers to urgently challenge the decision, arguing that it threatens public safety in one of the country’s most sensitive zones.
“As a resident of Upper Hill, and pursuant to Articles 22, 23, 10, 247, and 258 of the Constitution of Kenya, I have instructed my lawyers to move to court with urgency to challenge and block the proposed degazettement of Capital Hill Police Station,” he said.
Sonko warned that weakening security infrastructure in Upper Hill would expose critical national institutions to risk.
“We cannot and will not allow the security of Upper Hill to be compromised,” he stated, describing the area as “a critical nerve center of our nation.”
He highlighted the concentration of key institutions in the area, including Milimani Law Courts, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi Hospital, major banks such as Equity Bank, KCB, Co-operative Bank, NCBA, and Gulf Bank, as well as insurance firms and international hotels.
Upper Hill also hosts government offices such as the Teachers Service Commission, NTSA, the National Lands Commission, and ministries including Lands, Transport, Water, and Health, alongside embassies and religious institutions.
Sonko argued that any reduction in policing capacity would endanger lives and destabilize economic activity in the area.
“Weakening security in such a strategic area is not just reckless—it is a grave risk to lives, critical institutions, and the economic stability of our country,” he said.
He further raised concerns about ongoing legal proceedings linked to Capital Hill Police Station, stating that it holds key records relevant to his cases.
“Capital Hill Police Station holds crucial records, including OB No. 17/26/07/2025, which I rely on in my ongoing case (ACC No. 1 of 2020),” Sonko noted, adding that officers from the station have already testified and more are expected in court.
The legal challenge comes amid the shut down and degazettement of Capital Hill Police Station to pave the way for a new joint facility for St. John Ambulance and the Kenya Scouts Association.
The plan, part of a broader Parliamentary Service Commission expansion project, includes relocating more than 50 officers to nearby stations and transferring case files, exhibits, and impounded vehicles.
Authorities had also urged members of the public to collect pending cash bail before it is transferred to the National Treasury as part of the transition process.
Sonko has vowed to pursue the matter in court, insisting that any attempt to weaken the station poses “a direct threat to justice, public safety, and the rule of law,” and calling for urgent judicial intervention to halt the relocation process.
