Kenya Railways: Wamatangi property demolition not selective or politically motivated

Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi is facing scrutiny after what officials describe as negligence and arrogance culminated in the demolition of his business premises along Douglas Wakiihuri Road, off Lang’ata Road.

Kenya Railways has blamed the governor of allegedly ignoring a lawful notice to vacate public land issued six years ago, leaving authorities with no option but to reclaim the property through enforcement.

Kenya Railways has reiterated that the demolitions are not selective or politically motivated, but part of a firm and lawful campaign to protect public assets and pave the way for transformative development.

According to the corporation, the land—located along a critical railway corridor near Nyayo and Talanta Stadiums—forms part of the corporation’s legally protected reserve.

Wamatangi allegedly chose defiance, continuing to operate businesses on the land in total disregard of the law and public interest.

The governor has, however, claimed political persecution following the overnight demolition of his property.

“This is an act of cowardice. What happened here is all about politics,” he said.

The overnight operation involved bulldozers and excavators, escorted by police officers, that flattened semi-permanent structures on the site.

Businesses affected included a car yard, a car wash, and a restaurant, with several vehicles and other property damaged in the process.

By morning, the scale of destruction underscored what officials termed as “avoidable losses.”

Debris littered the area, while sections of Douglas Wakiihuri Road were temporarily closed, disrupting movement near the busy corridor.

Nairobi Police Commander George Seda confirmed that officers were deployed to provide security and assist Kenya Railways in repossessing the land, stressing that the parastatal had exhausted all legal and administrative channels.

“The management says they notified the owner of the property to vacate, but there was resistance. We came in to help with the demolition,” Seda said, adding that no injuries were reported.

Kenya Railways has strongly defended the operation, describing it as part of a bold, disciplined and long-overdue recovery drive aimed at reclaiming public land unlawfully occupied by private developers.

Under the leadership of Managing Director Philip Mainga, the corporation has intensified efforts to repossess encroached land across the country to unlock stalled development projects.

The reclaimed land along the Lang’ata corridor is said to be earmarked for major railway infrastructure expansion linked to Talanta Stadium and other developments that are expected to create thousands of jobs, boost logistics efficiency, and stimulate economic growth.

Public land must serve the public good, not individual interests,” a senior Kenya Railways official said, noting that the recovery programme is being carried out professionally, transparently and without fear or favour.

Kenya Railways has reiterated that the demolitions are not selective or politically motivated, but part of a firm and lawful campaign to protect public assets and pave the way for transformative development