Businesses operating along Douglas Wakihuri Road behind Nyayo Stadium were reduced to rubble in a dawn operation carried out under heavy police guard, cutting off the livelihoods of dozens of youths who depended on the site for daily income.
Mechanics, car washers, carpet cleaners, shop attendants, and other workers were left stranded after bulldozers flattened the premises, destroying structures and vehicles parked inside.
The demolished property has been linked to Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi, who had days earlier moved to court seeking protection against what he described as threats of eviction and demolition.
In documents filed at the Milimani Commercial Magistrates’ Court, the governor stated that the land belongs to Kenya Railways but that he has occupied it legally under a lease spanning more than two decades.
"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 under which the Applicant has established and continuously operated a business on the premises with the knowledge and acquiescence of the 1st Respondent," the petition adds.
According to the filing, Wamatangi argued that regular rent payments had been made and accepted throughout the lease period, confirming the existence of a lawful tenancy.
The court papers further state that on December 17, 2025, people said to be acting on behalf of Kenya Railways visited the property and issued verbal warnings that the site would be cleared by December 22, 2025, or shortly after, without serving any formal eviction notice.
The petition contends that the threatened demolition breached constitutional protections on property ownership and fair administrative action, while also ignoring procedures set out in the Land Act. Wamatangi had sought court orders barring any eviction or demolition pending the determination of the case.
The matter was scheduled for hearing at the Milimani Commercial Court on Monday, January 12, 2025. However, before the court could hear the application, demolition crews moved in early Wednesday morning and brought down the structures.
This was the second eviction attempt at the site. A similar exercise last week failed after a group of people who appeared to have advance knowledge of the operation confronted officials, throwing stones and forcing them to withdraw.
On Wednesday, police encountered resistance once again as groups tried to block access to the area. Nairobi police boss George Seda said officers were forced to use teargas to scatter protesters who had lit bonfires along Aerodrome Road.
Police barricaded Douglas Wakihuri Road behind Nyayo Stadium to allow the operation to continue without interruption. With traffic diverted, bulldozers moved in and pulled down the buildings as members of the public watched from a distance.
Authorities at the scene said the demolition was part of plans to extend the railway line towards Talanta Stadium. Seda said police were deployed to support Kenya Railways in reclaiming the land.
“The management says they notified the owner of the property to vacate, but there was resistance. We came in to help in the demolition,” said Seda.
He said no injuries were recorded during the operation, although property was destroyed. Police remained at the scene as a crowd gathered nearby, with some attempting to move closer to the debris, which included new vehicles.
Seda said officers would continue securing the area to allow the contractor to proceed with the works up to Talanta Stadium.
There was no immediate response from the governor following the demolition. However, individuals close to him described the action as politically motivated.
“They have targeted his other property for demolition elsewhere. Time will tell,” said a close aide.
Kenya Railways has in recent months carried out similar demolitions of structures located near railway lines across Nairobi as part of an ongoing expansion drive.
