The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Githunguri affordable housing project has been halted after the High Court of Kenya ordered an immediate suspension of construction on the disputed land following a case involving Kikuyu elders.
In a ruling issued by Justice Bahati Mwamunye, the court directed that all construction activities on the 58-acre parcel stop immediately. The judge also ordered the demolition of the perimeter wall and instructed the contractor to leave the site until the matter is fully heard and determined.
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The land is at the centre of a dispute between the government and elders from the Agikuyu community, who argue that the area carries deep cultural and historical importance.
The court decision came shortly after the elders carried out a traditional ritual at the site. Following the ceremony, lawyer Njoroge Mwangi filed a petition challenging the continuation of the housing project.
Community leaders, including Gitau Boro, welcomed the ruling, saying it affirms the need to respect cultural heritage. He urged the government to comply with the court order and allow preservation of what elders describe as a culturally significant site linked to ancestral traditions.
The elders also held a symbolic ceremony on Friday, breaking a calabash as a form of curse against those they accuse of disrespecting Kikuyu heritage. They maintain that the land should be protected as a heritage site rather than developed.
